.Michael Cohen.College Regulation Football and also University Basketball Article Writer.MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-- As the authorities transformed and also encountered West Virginia's captains adhering to a position coin throw that had actually gone the home staff's means, words of elderly safety and security Aubrey Burks resounded around Mountaineer Area thanks to a referee's mic." We desire the ball," Burks stated momentarily of confidence that was actually relayed around the video boards at either end of the coliseum. "And our company wan na go score." When, twice, three times, Burks redoed himself up until the umpire directed both collections of players toward the sidelines as first came close to. The Mountaineers came in for Sunday's across the country telecasted opener teeming along with self-confidence after finalizing the 2023 campaign with 5 victories in 6 games, marked through a 20-point gain North Carolina in the Fight it out's Mayo Bowl final December. A meeting record of 6-3 and a general mark of 9-4 were enough to stimulate optimism, excitement and also an agreement expansion for mind train Neal Brown.But choosing to acquire the opening first carried out bit in West Virginia's journey to go through on the purpose Burks had actually thus openly outlined. 4 belongings came and went before the Mountaineers mustered up any type of aspects in all, and even after that, after transforming the ball over two times in the initial one-fourth alone, they went for a lowly basket. And also field goals were actually never ever heading to suffice against a new-look, new-age Penn State offense that started to open the ability of previous luxury quarterback Drew Allar (11-of-17 for 216 yards and 3 TDs). Under the path of first-year offending planner Andy Kotelnicki, whom head train James Franklin tweezed coming from Kansas, the Nittany Lions lastly started to rumble. There were portion plays by means of the sky coming from Allar to wideouts Omari Evans (2 catches, 55 backyards) as well as Harrison Wallace III (5 catches, 117 backyards, 2 TDs). There were chunk plays on the ground along with tailbacks Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen. There were chunk use either edge of a climate delay that always kept each staffs in their locker rooms for 2 hrs, 19 mins in between the 2nd and also 3rd zones. There were enough chunk participates in to send swaths of the 62,084 fans home long prior to the ultimate seconds elapsed.The 34-12 gain was actually whatever Franklin and also Penn State might have expected in a top-level opener versus a Power-4 enemy. Here are some quick takeaways coming from Milan Puskar Arena: Early differenceA mistimed snap that appeared to see Allar through shock on his group's position belongings talented the Mountaineers terrific industry position just outside the reddish region along with 10:38 staying in the very first region. It was the very first of 4 West Virginia drives that either began or even evolved inside the Penn Condition 30-yard line throughout the first pair of one-fourths, the blended end results of which were actually only six aspects: a set of basket by twist Michael Hayes II coming from spans of 38 lawns and also 39 backyards, specifically. As well as each successive drive that stopped working to create a touchdown siphoned a bit a lot more power from what was actually, at least initially, a relatively rowdy crowd.West Virginia's first play after Allar's early fumble rapidly devolved in to calamity when the breeze from center Brandon Yates hit the activity male and also caromed deep right into the backfield, with Penn State at some point ripping belongings away from quarterback Garrett Greene. The upcoming Mountaineer foray into Nittany Lions' area was foiled by a fallen short "tush guts" on fourth and brief as Greene was actually rebuffed at free throw line of skirmish. 2 additional pushes that obtained 98 incorporated backyards around the center and also latter phases of the second fourth slowed at the exterior side of the red zone.Kotelnicki's offense was even more purposeful with each ownership that ventured right into West Virginia region. The Nittany Lions stressed a 10-play, 71-yard march with a 20-yard touchdown from Allar to Allen and covered a three-play, 73-yard gut punch when Allar zoomed a wonderful toss to Wallace III for another score with:06 staying in the second quarter, prolonging the Penn Condition lead to 14. Drew Allar gets in touch with Harrison Wallace III that drags his feets for a TD, stretching Penn State's top over West Virginia Play of the gameOnly a portion of the group remained when play eventually returned to at 4:23 p.m. and the Nittany Lions leading through 14 aspects. For the West Virginia faithful that remained-- all of them having huddled beneath the bleachers for greater than pair of hrs of lightning as well as downpours-- it was recognized just exactly how essential the position possession of the third fourth would certainly be. If Penn State hit completion zone as well as drove its own perk north of twenty, it was unlikely the Mountaineers would possess any sort of odds to claw their in the past in to opinion based on the anemic outrageous output from the very first half.A set of 10-yard scrambles from Allar and also a productive swing exchange operating back Nicholas Singleton moved the Nittany Lions all over midfield along with relative ease. And also is actually when Individual accented Penn State's success with a 40-yard goal run through the middle of West Virginia's protection. 2 taking linemen got rid of a course that left behind Singleton untouched up until he arrived at the third level, where the flailing arm of protection Anthony Wilson Jr. was actually no place near sufficient to reduce the velocity. Individual dashed downfield as well as into completion area as Penn Condition's lead swelled to an unbeatable 21-point scope. The one-two strike of Singleton as well as Allen blended for 167 hurrying gardens (134 hurrying, 33 receiving) and pair of touchdowns.Key statOne of the driving variables behind Franklin's choice to pursue Kotelnicki as his 6th offensive organizer in 11 seasons was as a result of the image for explosive plays at Kansas, where the Jayhawks had become a high-octane assault under Kotelnicki's guidance. During a three-year stretch from 2021-23, the Jayhawks ranked 12th across the country in amount of plays acquiring a minimum of 20 yards (8.3%) as well as 15th in amount of passing plays acquiring at least 30 yards (3.9%). Kansas exceeded 40 points 9 times in that span and covered 50 factors five opportunities, even as unpleasant personal injuries to starting quarterback Jalon Daniels evaluated the outburst's adaptability.Those sorts of field-tilting increases uncovered on their own early as well as commonly in Kotelnicki's launching versus West Virginia on Sunday, with Allar and the staff's high-ranking running back duo shredding the Mountaineers in additional methods, as well as stages, than one. Allar merely needed to have 11 conclusions to exceed 200 passing backyards and locate the end area three times by means of the air. Individual balanced almost 9 gardens per carry on his first thirteen attempts, two of which obtained 40 gardens as well as one of which discovered the end zone. Wallace beat one hundred obtaining yards for the very first time in his career on just five receptions.By the 8:13 result of the fourth quarter-- when the Nittany Lions started sending droves of back-ups onto the industry-- Kotelnicki's outburst was still balancing an incredible 8.4 gardens per play.What's upcoming for Penn State?Departing West Virginia along with an extensively excellent roadway victory positions the Nittany Lions for a possible climb in the nationwide rankings in the arriving weeks. Not only will Penn Condition be a heavy preference in its own next four video games against Bowling Veggie, Kent Condition, Illinois and UCLA-- the final two of which are actually conference opponents-- yet they additionally will not have to leave the friendly confines of Beaver Coliseum. A quartet of home times maintains the Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania up until mid-October, whereupon they'll fly to The golden state wherefore should be actually a top-level match with Major Ten novice USC. By then, Franklin's team need to be actually 5-0 total, 2-0 in the organization and squarely in the chat to hit the College Regulation football Playoff for the very first time as the format increases to 12 teams. And if Sunday's repulsive surge against the Mountaineers is actually any type of evidence of where Kotelnicki may take his system in the happening full weeks, after that it could be worth consisting of Penn State in conversations concerning genuine opponents for the Big Ten Championship and the championship game. What's next for West Virginia?After an opener through which Penn Condition tossed for 199 backyards as well as 3 goals in the very first half alone, the priority for Brown and also defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley between currently and also Week 2 need to be actually thickening a dripping second. The Mountaineers stood 86th across the country and also 8th in the Large 12 in passing protection final period in spite of possessing an all-conference cornerback in Beanie Diocesan Jr., whose 24 passes fought for (four INTs, twenty splits up) led the nation. Yet Diocesan is actually now playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and West Virginia's remaining edges battled to slow the Nittany Lions' downfield passing attack, particularly without the perk of a viable pass rush. Northwestern transmission Garnett Hollis Jr., that took the key project versus Wallace, was actually beaten for a 17-yard finalization on a drive that finished with Penn Condition reaching completion area and eventually gave up a back-shoulder goal that broke off the video game available soon prior to halftime. West Virginia should possess an easier challenge next Sunday against Albany.Michael Cohen covers college volleyball and basketball for FOX Sporting activities with an emphasis on the Big 10. Observe him at @Michael_Cohen13. [Want great stories provided right to your inbox? Make or log in to your FOX Athletics account, follow games, groups and players to acquire a tailored newsletter daily.] Adhere to Observe your favorites to customize your FOX Sports knowledge Receive more from University Volleyball Follow your faves to receive information regarding activities, information and also additional.