WVU Football Goes From Coasting to Holding On for Season Opening Win

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – With Pat White’s No. 5 now on the wall and looming over the current WVU football team, West Virginia, with Michael Hawkins Jr. in White’s old role, took care of business in a way that made every member of Mountaineer Nation proud.

Igniting his West Virginia career, Cam Cook took the first play of the first possession 72 yards down the sideline. He didn’t score on that run, but it only took him one more carry to punch home the first touchdown of the season.

However, not intimidated and not willing to fold without a fight, Coastal Carolina drove the ball up the field towards the north end zone. But to snatch back momentum and reignite the crowd, the WVU defense came up with a big stop on a fourth down attempt. Only needing eight yard to tie the game, Coastal quarterback Deuce Bailey, who was 5-for-7 through the air on the drive, failed to connect with his intended target and handed the ball back to Cook and company.

And the Mountaineers made sure to capitalize on the opportunity. A drive that included a 17-yard reception from veteran wide receiver Jaden Bray ended with a 49-yard touchdown strike by Hawkins to Armoni Weaver-Bomar. With a little over a minute left in the first quarter, West Virginia was sitting on a comfortable 14-0 lead.

Following another stop of Coastal, one that didn’t make any fan in attendance sweat nearly as much, WVU managed to add three more points on the scoreboard thanks to a 32-yard field goal by Jack Cassidy, the winner of the off-season kicking competition.

Then, to further demoralize the visitor, the Mountaineers flipped the field and forced their first turnover of the season, one freshman Matt Sieg came up with, making his presence felt in his debut game.

The WVU offense didn’t stop there either, controlling the ball throughout most of the second quarter and scoring his second score of the game with 1:18 left in the half. Cook’s touchdown capped off a 17 play drive that lasted 6:35.

WVU running back Cam Cook goes to hand the ball to the referee after scoring a touchdown during West Virginia’s season opening game against Coastal Carolina. (WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose)

Just in the first half alone, Hawkins was 7-for-9 for 113 yards and a touchdown pass. He also ran for 68 yards on 12 carries. Cook ran for 119 yards off 15 carries with two scores.

The Chanticleers did open the second half with their most productive possession of the day, finding pay dirt after the only scouring drive for their team. Bailey led Coastal to a touchdown with a 34-yard pass to stop the bleeding and cut into WVU’s 24-7 advantage. But West Virginia wasn’t about to let any opponent, especially one outside the Power Four, spoil the celebratory afternoon.

However, West Virginia’s offense struggled to find a consistent rhythm in the second half, taking until 3:47 in the fourth quarter to tack on more points – a touchdown keeper by Hawkins for his third touchdown of the day.

Hawkins finished with 132 yards passing and 108 on the ground while Cook racked up 132 for an average of 5.0 yards per touch. Freshman Amari Latimer ran for 32 yards on five attempts of his own.

A serious injury to defensive lineman Darius Wiley – he had to be carted off – put a halt in the mood for a moment as well, but the early-game work was enough to secure the win for WVU.

Coastal did score twice more before time expired, as Bailey threw his third touchdown, a 37-yarder, and then a 32 yard field goal it only a one-score game. It was still too little too late for the Chanticleers and West Virginia held on to win the game, 31-24.

The now 1-0 Mountaineers will welcome UT Martin to Morgantown next week, with kickoff from Milan Puskar Stadium set for 1:00 pm ET.

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