.Michael Cohen.University Football and University Basketball Article Writer.MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-- As the officials transformed and dealt with West Virginia's captains following a position piece shake that had gone the home crew's technique, the words of elderly protection Aubrey Burks reverberated around Mountaineering Industry thanks to a referee's microphone." Our company want the ball," Burks said momentarily of assurance that was actually broadcast throughout the video panels at either end of the coliseum. "And also we wan na go credit rating." Once, two times, three times, Burks repeated themself up until the referee aimed both sets of players toward the side projects as kickoff approached. The Mountaineers arrived for Sunday's country wide telecasted opener brimming with assurance after closing the 2023 campaign along with five victories in 6 activities, branded through a 20-point win over North Carolina in the Fight it out's Mayonnaise Dish final December. A conference document of 6-3 and also a total proof of 9-4 sufficed to trigger positive outlook, excitement as well as an agreement extension for head instructor Neal Brown.But choosing to acquire the position first performed little in West Virginia's mission to follow up on the goal Burks had actually therefore publicly outlined. 4 possessions reoccured before the Mountaineers rounded up any points in any way, and also even then, after switching the ball over two times in the first quarter alone, they went for a humble basket. As well as basket were never ever heading to suffice against a new-look, new-age Penn Condition offense that began to open the ability of former luxury quarterback Drew Allar (11-of-17 for 216 lawns and also three TDs). Under the path of first-year repulsive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki, whom move instructor James Franklin picked from Kansas, the Nittany Lions lastly began to rumble. There were chunk plays by means of the air from Allar to wideouts Omari Evans (pair of catches, 55 lawns) as well as Harrison Wallace III (5 catches, 117 yards, two TDs). There were actually piece plays on the ground with tailbacks Nicholas Individual and also Kaytron Allen. There were chunk use either side of a weather condition problem that maintained each teams in their locker spaces for 2 hrs, 19 moments between the 2nd and 3rd regions. There were enough part participates in to deliver swaths of the 62,084 enthusiasts home long prior to the ultimate secs elapsed.The 34-12 win was actually every thing Franklin and Penn Condition might possess wished for in a prominent opener versus a Power-4 challenger. Right here are some quick takeaways coming from Milan Puskar Stadium: Early differenceA mistimed break that seemed to see Allar through unpleasant surprise on his team's opening belongings blessed the Mountaineers great area posture just outside the reddish zone with 10:38 continuing to be in the first sector. It was actually the very first of four West Virginia steers that either started or advanced inside the Penn Condition 30-yard product line during the very first pair of one-fourths, the integrated outcomes of which were just 6 factors: a pair of field goals by secret Michael Hayes II coming from distances of 38 gardens as well as 39 lawns, specifically. And also each subsequent drive that fell short to produce a touchdown siphoned a bit more power from what was, at least originally, a relatively rowdy crowd.West Virginia's first play after Allar's very early fumble rapidly devolved right into disaster when the breeze coming from center Brandon Yates blew the activity male as well as caromed deep into the backfield, along with Penn Condition ultimately tearing property far from quarterback Garrett Greene. The upcoming Mountaineering invasion right into Nittany Lions' region was actually foiled through a stopped working "tush push" on 4th and quick as Greene was rebuffed at the line of scrimmage. Pair of added drives that acquired 98 blended gardens around the mid and also last phases of the 2nd quarter delayed at the external edge of the reddish zone.Kotelnicki's outburst was much more deliberate with each possession that ventured into West Virginia area. The Nittany Lions punctuated a 10-play, 71-yard march along with a 20-yard goal from Allar to Allen and also covered a three-play, 73-yard digestive tract punch when Allar zoomed a beautiful toss to Wallace III for one more credit rating along with:06 continuing to be in the second quarter, expanding the Penn State trigger 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 crowd continued to be when play ultimately resumed at 4:23 p.m. and also the Nittany Lions leading by 14 points. For the West Virginia faithful that continued to be-- every one of them having actually cuddled under the bleachers for more than 2 hours of lightning as well as torrential rains-- it was actually understood just how pivotal the position property of the 3rd one-fourth would be actually. If Penn State got to completion area and also pushed its advantage north of 20, it was not likely the Mountaineers would certainly have any kind of possibility to claw their in the past into contention based upon the anemic offending output from the initial half.A set of 10-yard races from Allar and a successful swing exchange running back Nicholas Singleton moved the Nittany Lions around midfield along with relative ease. And also's when Individual accented Penn Condition's triumph along with a 40-yard goal run through the center of West Virginia's protection. 2 pulling electrician removed a course that left behind Individual untouched till he hit the 3rd amount, where the smacking branch of safety and security Anthony Wilson Jr. was actually nowhere near sufficient to slow the velocity. Singleton competed downfield and right into completion area as Penn State's lead swelled to an insurmountable 21-point margin. The one-two punch of Individual and also Allen mixed for 167 hurrying lawns (134 hurrying, thirty three obtaining) and 2 touchdowns.Key statOne of the driving aspects responsible for Franklin's decision to pursue Kotelnicki as his 6th objectionable coordinator in 11 times was because of the online reputation for explosive dips into Kansas, where the Jayhawks had actually developed into a high-octane assault under Kotelnicki's advice. In the course of a three-year stretch coming from 2021-23, the Jayhawks rated 12th country wide in percent of plays gaining a minimum of twenty gardens (8.3%) and also 15th in amount of passing plays gaining at the very least 30 lawns (3.9%). Kansas outperformed 40 aspects 9 attend that span as well as topped 50 aspects 5 times, also as irritating accidents to beginning quarterback Jalon Daniels checked the outburst's adaptability.Those forms of field-tilting increases uncovered themselves early as well as typically in Kotelnicki's launching against West Virginia on Sunday, with Allar and the staff's high-ranking managing back duo shredding the Mountaineers in more techniques, and also phases, than one. Allar merely needed to have 11 completions to go over 200 passing yards and also discover completion area 3 times through the sky. Individual averaged virtually 9 backyards every proceed his first 13 tries, 2 of which gained 40 lawns and also one of which found completion region. Wallace surpassed one hundred getting yards for the very first time in his occupation on simply 5 receptions.By the 8:13 sign of the 4th quarter-- when the Nittany Lions began delivering wents of back-ups onto the field-- Kotelnicki's offense was still averaging an awesome 8.4 gardens per play.What's upcoming for Penn State?Departing West Virginia along with a completely excellent street triumph places the Nittany Lions for a potential climb in the nationwide rankings in the arriving weeks. Certainly not simply will Penn State be actually a heavy favorite in its upcoming four activities versus Bowling Environment-friendly, Kent Condition, Illinois as well as UCLA-- the final two of which are actually association rivals-- yet they additionally won't must leave behind the helpful boundaries of Beaver Arena. A quartet of home days keeps the Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania till mid-October, whereupon they'll fly to California wherefore must be actually a high-profile match along with Large Ten novice USC. Already, Franklin's staff must be actually 5-0 overall, 2-0 in the game and straight in the chat to get to the College Football Playoff for the very first time as the format increases to 12 groups. As well as if Sunday's offending blast against the Mountaineers is any sort of evidence of where Kotelnicki may take his system in the happening full weeks, at that point it could be worth consisting of Penn State in conversations regarding legit opponents for the Big 10 Champion and also the national championship. What is actually following for West Virginia?After an opener through which Penn State tossed for 199 yards and also three goals in the very first one-half alone, the top priority for Brown and also defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley between currently as well as Week 2 ought to be actually solidifying a leaking additional. The Mountaineers stood 86th nationally as well as 8th in the Huge 12 in passing defense last season in spite of possessing an all-conference cornerback in Beanie Diocesan Jr., whose 24 successfully pases fought for (four INTs, twenty separations) led the country. But Diocesan is right now playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and also West Virginia's continuing to be corners struggled to slow the Nittany Lions' downfield passing strike, particularly without the advantage of a viable successfully pass thrill. Northwestern transfer Garnett Hollis Jr., who got the main job versus Wallace, was hammered for a 17-yard completion on a drive that ended with Penn State hitting completion zone as well as later on gave up a back-shoulder touchdown that broke the game accessible not long before halftime. West Virginia ought to possess a less complicated challenge next Sunday versus Albany.Michael Cohen covers university volleyball as well as baseball for FOX Sports along with an emphasis on the Big Ten. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13. [Want great tales supplied straight to your inbox? Develop or even visit to your FOX Sports account, comply with organizations, groups and also gamers to obtain a personalized newsletter daily.] Observe Follow your faves to personalize your FOX Sports expertise Get a lot more coming from College Football Follow your preferences to obtain information concerning activities, news as well as additional.