West Virginia’s football season kicked off with high hopes but resulted in a disappointing loss to Penn State, similar to their encounter last year. Head coach Neal Brown had expressed confidence earlier in the week, believing that his team could produce a different outcome against Penn State in their season opener. However, the Mountaineers fell short, losing 34-12 at Milan Puskar Stadium in a game that followed a pattern similar to their previous meeting with the Nittany Lions.
The game started with promise for West Virginia, but as the match progressed, Penn State began to assert their dominance. The Mountaineers remained competitive until the closing moments of the second quarter but managed only one touchdown throughout the game. Quarterback Garrett Greene struggled to find his rhythm, both in the air and on the ground, accumulating only 166 total yards. Running backs CJ Donaldson and Jahiem White were also contained, managing just 75 yards combined.
Brown was candid in his postgame remarks, giving credit to Penn State while acknowledging his team’s poor performance. He emphasized that West Virginia did not play at the level required to beat a team of Penn State’s caliber. Despite his high expectations for the Mountaineers, Brown admitted that they fell far short of meeting them on Saturday.
Offensively, West Virginia never found its groove. Greene fumbled four times, losing two, and the Mountaineers managed just 246 total yards. Promising drives in the second quarter stalled in Penn State territory, including a failed fourth-down attempt at the Nittany Lions’ 16-yard line in the first quarter. These missed opportunities prevented West Virginia from gaining any significant momentum.
A crucial turning point came late in the first half when Penn State executed a quick, three-play, 73-yard touchdown drive with just 32 seconds remaining. This sequence put the Nittany Lions ahead 20-6 at halftime, a lead that proved insurmountable for West Virginia. Brown expressed frustration with his team’s defensive lapse, stating that such a play should never happen with so little time remaining in the half.
Adding to the challenges, severe lightning storms around Morgantown extended halftime into a lengthy delay of over two hours. Despite the interruption, Greene did not attribute the loss to the delay, acknowledging that the Mountaineers failed to execute well both before and after the break. The long pause, while disruptive, was not the primary reason for their defeat.
Looking ahead, Brown made it clear that this game would not define West Virginia’s season. He reminded his team that they had bounced back from a similar loss last year, finishing with a 9-4 record and achieving the best season under his leadership. However, he acknowledged that losing at home on such a big stage was a tough pill to swallow.
Greene echoed Brown’s sentiment, maintaining that the season was still young and that the Mountaineers remained a good football team despite the setback. He acknowledged Penn State’s strength, stating that they were simply outplayed on the day.
The season is far from over for West Virginia. They have several key matchups ahead, including the Backyard Brawl in two weeks, followed by four ranked opponents later in the season. As the Mountaineers prepare for their next game against FCS opponent Albany, Brown and his team are focused on regrouping and improving their performance.
In the locker room after the game, Brown reiterated to his players and coaching staff that their performance was not up to the standard they had set for themselves. He emphasized that while Penn State deserved credit for their victory, West Virginia had much higher expectations and needed to play at a much higher level moving forward.
Despite the sting of this early loss, West Virginia’s season holds plenty of opportunities for redemption. The team remains determined to prove themselves in the weeks ahead, starting with their next game at home.
