Shanna Rose | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va.- After a slow start, West Virginia University came to life and defeated Robert Morris 45-3 on Saturday afternoon at Milan Puskar Stadium in Rich Rodriguez’s homecoming game.
Quarterback Nicco Marchiol started for the Mountaineers and had a solid performance in the season opener. He finished with 224 yards and one touchdown while completing 17-of-20 passes.
Running back Jahiem White scored two touchdowns and had 93 yards. Wide receiver Cam Vaughn had one touchdown and 127 receiving yards.
Linebacker Chase Wilson led defenders with six tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble.
Quarterback Zach Tanner completed just 7-of-21 passes for the Colonials for 70 yards.
Marchiol got WVU on the scoreboard first, moving the offense 89 yards on 10 plays. He found the end zone on the quarterback keeper to take a 7-0 lead.
However, mistakes plagued the Mountaineers the rest of the first half. WVU fumbled three times in a span of four plays late in the second quarter.
Wide receiver Oran Singleton Jr. fumbled the ball at the Mountaineers 19 with 11:44 to play in the second quarter that led to Jayson Jenkins’ 36-yard field goal.
At the half, the Mountaineers led 10-3.
In the second half, WVU came out ready to play and the Mountaineers started the third quarter at their own 36 after RMU’s short kickoff.
Two runs from White and a pair from Marchiol moved the ball down the field. Then Marchiol found tight end Grayson Barnes for a 20-yard pass, moving the ball to the 18. Four plays later White scored his first touchdown of the game. Kade Hensley’s conversion kick made it 17-3.
WVU’s defense came up big when linebacker Reid Carrico recovered a fumble at the Colonials 24, which set things in motion for White’s second touchdown, a 4-yard run. Hensley’s conversion put the Mountaineers ahead 24-3 with 5:21 left in the third quarter.
Vaughn extended WVU’s lead on the ensuing possession, beating the RMU secondary for a 46-yard touchdown catch.
The Mountaineers capped the scoring when quarterback Scotty Fox Jr. ran 59 yards and found the end zone to make it 45-3 with 3:15 left in the fourth quarter.
WVU’s defense held the Colonials to just 123 total yards and eight first downs for the afternoon.
Rodriguez earned his 61st win, tying him with Dana Holgorsen for second on the school’s all-time win list.
The Mountaineers travel to Athens next Saturday to meet Ohio University, who lost to Rutgers 34-31 on Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (ET) and is televised on ESPNU.
Photo Credit: WVU Sports- Dale Sparks- All Pro Photography
