WVU Football
West Virginia vs Syracuse Camping Bowl Preview
West Virginia
vs
Syracuse
Kickoff: 5:15
Location: Orlando, Fl (Camping World Stadium)
TV: ESPN
Announcers: Dave Flemming (play-by-play),
Rod Gilmore (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sideline reporter)
Team Stats | ![]() | ![]() |
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Points Per Game | 42.3 | 40.8 |
Points Allowed Per Game | 26.5 | 27.8 |
Total Yards | 520.4 | 467.9 |
Yards Passing | 358.1 | 261.5 |
Yards Rushing | 162.3 | 206.4 |
Yards Allowed | 405.5 | 426.8 |
Pass Yards Allowed | 254.6 | 263.0 |
Rush Yards Allowed | 150.8 | 163.8 |
Syracuse 2018 Schedule and Results
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Player | Status | Type | Comment |
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Gabe Horan | Out | Undisclosed | Horan has been sidelined for undisclosed reasons and it is unclear when he will return to action. |
Ed Hendrix | Out | Knee | Hendrix is recovering from knee surgery and is expected to miss the remainder of the 2018 season. |
Matt Keller | Out | Ankle | Keller sustained a season-ending ankle injury. |
Devon Clarke | Out | Undisclosed | Clarke has been sidelined with an unspecified injury and it is unknown when he will be back in the lineup. |
Zach Morton | Out | Knee | Morton is nursing a knee injury and will miss an unknown length of time. |
Cooper Lutz | Out | Undisclosed | Lutz has been sidelined by an unspecified injury and it is unknown when he will return to the lineup. |
Jesse Conners | Out | Wrist | Conners has been sidelined with a wrist injury and it is unclear when he will make his season debut. |
Jake Pickard | Out | Knee | Pickard has been sidelined by a knee injury and it is unclear when he will return to the field. |
Ifeatu Melifonwu | Questionable | Hamstring | Melifonwu has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury and his availability is unclear for the Camping World Bowl against West Virginia. |
Ravian Pierce | Questionable | Undisclosed | Pierce is dealing with an unspecified ailment, leaving his status unclear for the Camping World Bowl against West Virginia. |
Josh Black | Questionable | Lower Body | Black is dealing with a lower-body injury, leaving his availability clouded for the Camping World Bowl against West Virginia. |
Tyrone Perkins | Questionable | Leg | Perkins missed the last three games nursing a leg injury and his status is uncertain for the Camping World Bowl against West Virginia. |
Antwan Cordy | Questionable | Personal | Cordy is tending to a personal situation and it is uncertain if he will play in the Camping World Bowl against West Virginia. |
Sean Riley | Probable | Undisclosed | Riley is expected to play in the Camping World Bowl against West Virginia despite an unspecified injury. |
Trishton Jackson | Probable | Eligibility | Jackson will likely suit up for the Camping World Bowl against West Virginia. |
Abdul Adams | Probable | Eligibility | Adams is likely to play in the Camping World Bowl against West Virginia. |
Syracuse Depth Chart
OFFENSE
QB 2 Eric Dungey (6-4, 226, Sr.) 13 Tommy DeVito (6-2, 211, R-Fr.)
RB 21 Moe Neal (5-11, 191, Jr.) OR 4 Dontae Strickland (5-11, 204, Sr.)
WR 80 Taj Harris (6-3, 175, Fr.) 19 Sharod Johnson (5-11 174, R-Rr.)
WR 10 Sean Riley (5-8, 170, Jr.) 82 Nykeim Johnson (5-8, 167, So.)
WR 17 Jamal Custis (6-5, 213, R-Sr.) 81 Cameron Jordan (6-3, 202, R-Fr.)
TE 6 Ravian Pierce (6-3, 244, Sr.) 36 Chris Elmore (6-0, 282, So.)
LT 60 Cody Conway (6-6, 296, Sr.) 52 Carlos VeƩ orello (6-4, 283, Fr.)
LG 59 Aaron Roberts (6-4, 292, R-Sr.) 57 Dakota Davis (6-5, 327, R-Fr.)
C 68 Airon Servais (6-6, 293, R-So.) 75 Sam Heckel (6-4, 294, R-So.)
RG 63 Evan Adams (6-6, 326, R-Jr.) 72 Andrejas Duerig (6-3, 308, R-Jr.)
RT 78 Koda Maron (6-6, 304, R-Sr.) 69 Patrick Davis (6-5, 318, So.)
DEFENSE
DE 94 Alton Robinson (6-4, 249, Jr.) 57 Kingsley Jonathan (6-3, 256, So.)
NT 98 McKinley Williams (6-4, 295, Jr.) OR 85 Josh Black (6-3, 272, R-So.)
DT 95 Chris Slayton (6-4, 309, R-Sr.) 45 Kenneth Ruff (6-1, 296, Jr.)
DE 55 Kendall Coleman (6-3, 266, Jr.) 97 Brandon Berry (6-4, 251, R-Jr.)
WLB 25 Kielan Whitner (6-0, 215, Sr.) 24 Shyheim Cullen (6-0, 224, R-Jr.)
MLB 41 Ryan Guthrie (6-2, 224, Sr.) 12 Andrew Armstrong (6-2, 228, Jr.) OR 24 Shyheim Cullen (6-0, 224, R-Jr.)
SLB 24 Shyheim Cullen (6-0, 224, R-Jr.) 12 Andrew Armstrong (6-2, 228, Jr.)
CB 21 Trill Williams (6-2, 202, Fr.) 18 Scoop Bradshaw (5-11, 181, Jr.)
FS 19 Andre Cisco (6-0, 199, Fr.) 8 Antwan Cordy (5-8, 177, R-Sr.)
SS 14 Evan Foster (6-0, 223, Jr.) 34 Eric Coley (6-2, 183, R-Fr.)
CB 3 Christopher Fredrick (5-11, 194, R-Jr.) 23 Ifeatu Melifonwu (6-3, 200, R-Fr.)
Syracuse Season Player Stats
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West Virginia 2018 Schedule and Results
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Player | Status | Type | Comment |
---|---|---|---|
Mike O’Laughlin | Out | Knee | O’Laughlin suffered a season-ending torn ACL. |
Jake Long | Out | Wrist | Long has a dislocated wrist and there is no timetable for his return. |
Gary Jennings | Out | Ankle | Jennings Jr. has an ankle injury and will sit out the Camping World Bowl against Syracuse. |
Dillon Spalding | Out | Ankle | Spalding is likely to sit out the entire 2018 season due to a severe ankle injury. |
Will Grier | Out | Personal | Grier will not play in the Camping World Bowl against Syracuse as he will be preparing for the NFL draft. |
Charlie Benton | Out | Knee | Benton is sidelined with a knee injury and it is unclear when he will return to the lineup. |
Dylan Tonkery | Questionable | Neck | Tonkery sat out the previous four games due to a neck injury and it is unclear if he will be available for the Camping World Bowl against Syracuse. |
Yodny Cajuste | Questionable | Leg | Cajuste is nursing a leg injury and it is undetermined if he will partake in the Camping World Bowl against Syracuse. |
Derrek Pitts | Questionable | Knee | Pitts is dealing with a knee injury and his status for the Camping World Bowl against Syracuse is in question. |
West Virginia Depth Chart
Offense
WR (X) 8 Marcus Simms (6-0 196 Jr.) 82 Dominique Maiden (6-5 206 Sr.)
TE (H) 88 Trevon Wesco (6-4 272 r-Sr.) 84 Jovani Haskins (6-4 245 r-So.)
LT 72 Kelby Wickline (6-4 301 r-Jr.) 76 Chase Behrndt (6-4 310 r-So.)
LG 73 Josh Sills (6-6 331 r-So.) 57 Michael Brown (6-3 353 r-Jr.)
C 79 Matt Jones (6-3 317 r-Jr.) 78 Jacob Buccigrossi (6-3 306 r-So.)
RG 65 Isaiah Hardy (6-6 335 Sr.) 58 Joe Brown (6-4 354 r-Jr.)
RT 53 Colton McKivitz (6-7 310 r-Jr.) 70 Tyler Thurmond (6-4 288 r-Fr.)
WR (Y) 1 T.J. Simmons (6-2 200 r-So.) 16 William Crest Jr. (6-1 214 r-Sr.)
WR (Z) 13 David Sills V (6-4 210 Sr.) 81 Sam James (6-0 165 Fr.)
QB 11 Jack Allison (6-6 210 r-So.) 10 Trey Lowe III (6-2 220 Fr.)
RB 6 Kennedy McKoy (6-0 205 Jr.) OR 32 Martell Pettaway (5-9 212 Jr.) OR 20 Alec Sinkfield (5-9 188 r-Fr.) OR 4 Leddie Brown (5-11 215 Fr.)
Defense
DE 46 Reese Donahue (6-4 280 Jr) OR 5 Ezekiel Rose 6-2 278 Sr
NT 40 Kenny Bigelow Jr. (6-4 304 r-Sr.) 56 Darius Stills (6-1 293 So.)
DE 12 Jabril Robinson (6-2 271 r-Sr.) 55 Dante Stills (6-4 294 Fr.)
SAM 9 JoVanni Stewart (5-8 195 Jr.) 33 Quondarius Qualls (6-1 229 Sr.)
MIKE 34 Shea Campbell (5-11 235 r-Jr.) 31 Zach Sandwisch (6-2 225 r-So.)
WILL 11 David Long Jr. (5-11 223 r-Jr.) 35 Josh Chandler (5-10 229 Fr.)
LCB 28 Keith Washington Jr. (6-0 178 r-Jr.) 24 Hakeem Bailey (6-0 193 r-Jr.)
FS 2 Kenny Robinson Jr. (6-2 198 So.) 29 Sean Mahone (5-11 198 r-So.)
SPUR 6 Dravon Askew-Henry (6-0 201 r-Sr.) 26 Deamonte Lindsay (6-1 212 r-Jr.)
BS 3 Toyous Avery Jr. (5-11 200 r-Sr.) 39 Dante Bonamico (5-8 185 r-So.)
RCB 4 Josh Norwood (5-10 180 r-Jr.) 1 Derrek Pitts Jr. (6-0 182 So.)
Season Player Stats
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Receiving
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This will be the 61st meeting between the West Virginia Mountaineers (8-3) and the Syracuse Orange (9-3). Syracuse leads the all-times series 33-27 and have won three-straight over West Virginia. Prior to Syracuse winning the last three, the Mountaineers won eight straight against the Orange.
It’s been six years since these two have met annually and the rivalry has simmered down. However, some debate whether a not the Ben Schwartzwalder Trophy should be up for grabs during the bowl game with Syracuse has surfaced after the Orange declined to take it to Orlando.
The Orange had a bit of a surprising season, finishing second in the Atlantic Division of the ACC, after being picked last in the preseason. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers fell a game short of making a trip to Arlington, Texas for the Big 12 Championship.
The Syracuse offense revolves around quarterback Eric Dungy. The Orange run a spread option system thats heavily involved in the run game, averaging over 200 yards a game on the ground. Don’t let their success on the ground fool you. Dungy may not be as efficient through the air as most of the QB’s the Mountaineers have seen this season, but they pull defenses in with the running game and can hit the big play behind the secondary.
The West Virginia defense has struggled to stop a dual-threat quarterback this season. The Mountaineer defense has seen some of the best receivers in the country along with a Heisman winner. . They should be able to win the match-ups on the outside, it will be a matter of if they can get pressure in the backfield, along with stopping the running game to try to stifle this potent Syracuse offense.
Syracuse doesn’t run anything WVU hasn’t seen thus far this season; nonetheless, the Mountaineer defense has given up over 1,300 yards and 100 points in the last two game.,
Syracuse runs a four-man front on the defensive side of the ball, anchored by defensive tackle Chris Slayton. The Orange have a great pair of linebackers in Ryan Guthrie and Kielan Whitner. They have combined for 197 tackles on the season. Free safety Andre Cisco has seven interceptions this season and will try to slow down the Mountaineer receivers.
Starting defensive end Alton Robinson and defensive tackle McKinley Williams will miss the bowl game due to personal reasons. Robinson led the Orange in sacks this season with 10 and contributed 17 tackles for losses, 11 QB hits, and three forced fumbles.
Missing several key contributors doesn’t bode well for the Orange, considering they ranked 10th in total defense in the ACC.
West Virginia is without starting quarterback Will Grier; however, sophomore Jack Allison has all the tools to run the Mountaineer offense.
Head Coach Dana Holgorsen is taking over play-calling duties for the bowl game, after the departure of offensive coordinator Jake Spavital departed to take the head coaching job at Texas State. Holgorsen was a little more run heavy in his final year as offensive coordinator in 2016 with Skyler Howard under center and he’s expected to lean on his stable of talented running back to take the pressure off an inexperienced Allison.
The Mountaineers will also be without leading receiver Gary Jenning, but the cupboard is not bare. They’ve featured tight end Trevon Wesco late in the season and still have David Sills and Marcus Simms to get behind the secondary.
This old bitter rivalry is setting up to be an instant classic with neither side of the ball having a clear advantage going into the game.