West Virginia Rolls Over UT Martin for Complete Team Win

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – To take care of business with a big game ahead, West Virginia rolled over UT Martin to improve their record to 2-0.

Quickly squashing any momentum UT Martin earned from a 24-yard completion to open the game, the Mountaineers eventually forced a turnover on downs and then sent a message with a touchdown on their second play from scrimmage. Michael Hawkins aired it out and found DJ Epps in front of two defenders as he then turned on the jets and completed a 53-yard touchdown.

Following another stop on defense, Cam Cook capped off the Mountaineers’ second touchdown of the day with a two-yard run. And then, Hawkins took off himself. Hawkins used his own legs and speed to run 71 yards up the middle and increase the lead to 21-0.

UT Martin briefly thought they were going to crawl back into the game after a 53-yard touchdown, one that included multiple missed tackles by the WVU defense. However, it was called back due to an illegal block. West Virginia made that a distant memory, forcing a punt and then getting back into the end zone themselves. Hawkins ran in the score for his second touchdown on the ground and third of the day, putting the Mountaineers up 28-0 with 11:30 left in the first half.

Keeping it going in the second half (unlike the week before), WVU scored their fifth touchdown of the game on their opening possession of the second half. Hawkins aired it out to tight end Ryan Ward, throwing a rope into the end zone for the score.

At the time of the touchdown, Hawkins was 5-for-7 for 155 yards with two touchdown passes and six rushing attempts for 96 yards and two more scores. That’s also how he would end his day, too. Scotty Fox replaced Hawkins with just over seven minutes left in the third quarter. Cook ran for 52 yards a touchdown on just 10 carries.

Fox was 2-for-4 for 24 yards and 21 more rushing, but the next WVU score came thanks to a pass from freshman Jyron Hughley, who tossed a 27-yard strike to Kedrick Triplett. It was Hughley’s first touchdown pass as a Mountaineer and made the score 52-0 with 7:07 left on the clock.

An Ashton Woods interception handed the ball back to the Mountaineer offense, which proceeded West Virginia’s fifth touchdown, running back Amari Latimer running 29 yards for his first career college score.

WVU added a Jack Cassidy 35-yard field goal before the end of the third quarter, increasing the advantage to 45-0. With Jyron Hughley in at quarterback, WVU scores again off a 27-yard pass to take a commanding 52-0 lead with 7:07 left in the game. Fox finished 2-for-4 for 27 yards and 21 yards rushing. A late fumble by WVU’s fourth quarterback of the game, Max Brow, ruined the shutout and led to a UT Martin touchdown.

West Virginia drained the clock and took home the win, 52-7.

The true test for Rodriguez’s now 2-0 Mountaineers will be what’s up next. West Virginia will now travel to Charlotte, N.C. for a neutral site matchup with Virginia. Kickoff from Bank of America Stadium is set for 7:30 pm ET on Saturday, Sept. 19.

Find more coverage of the WVU football program at WV Sports Now.