.Michael Cohen.University Soccer and College Basketball Article Writer.MORGANTOWN, W.Va.-- As the officials switched and also encountered West Virginia's leaders observing a position coin throw that had actually gone the home team's method, words of senior safety and security Aubrey Burks echoed around Mountaineering Field courtesy of an umpire's microphone." Our experts want the ball," Burks claimed momentarily of confidence that was actually relayed all over the video recording panels at either end of the arena. "As well as our experts wan na go credit rating." When, two times, three times, Burks duplicated himself up until the referee directed both sets of gamers toward the side projects as kickoff came close to. The Mountaineers got there for Sunday's across the country televised opener brimming with confidence after finalizing the 2023 campaign along with five victories in six activities, stamped through a 20-point win over North Carolina in the Duke's Mayonnaise Bowl final December. A meeting file of 6-3 and a total proof of 9-4 sufficed to stimulate optimism, pleasure as well as a deal extension for head instructor Neal Brown.But opting for to get the position kickoff did little bit in West Virginia's pursuit to go through on the intent Burks had actually thus openly outlined. Four possessions came and went just before the Mountaineers collected any sort of factors in any way, as well as even then, after turning the ball over two times in the very first quarter alone, they chose a lowly basket. And basket were certainly never heading to suffice against a new-look, new-age Penn State outburst that started to unlock the potential of past fine quarterback Drew Allar (11-of-17 for 216 lawns and also 3 TDs). Under the direction of first-year annoying organizer Andy Kotelnicki, whom head coach James Franklin tweezed coming from Kansas, the Nittany Lions ultimately began to rumble. There were actually chunk plays through the sky from Allar to wideouts Omari Evans (2 catches, 55 gardens) as well as Harrison Wallace III (five catches, 117 gardens, pair of TDs). There were portion plays on the ground with tailbacks Nicholas Singleton and also Kaytron Allen. There were chunk plays on either side of a weather condition hold-up that kept each crews in their closet rooms for 2 hrs, 19 moments in between the second as well as 3rd zones. There sufficed portion participates in to send out swaths of the 62,084 followers home long just before the ultimate seconds elapsed.The 34-12 gain was actually every thing Franklin and also Penn Condition might possess expected in a prominent opener against a Power-4 opponent. Here are actually some fast takeaways coming from Milan Puskar Coliseum: Early differenceA mistimed break that appeared to see Allar by unpleasant surprise on his staff's opening belongings blessed the Mountaineers terrific area posture simply outside the red region along with 10:38 remaining in the very first zone. It was actually the first of 4 West Virginia steers that either started or advanced inside the Penn State 30-yard line throughout the very first two one-fourths, the blended results of which were actually just six aspects: a pair of basket by kicker Michael Hayes II coming from spans of 38 backyards and 39 backyards, specifically. And also each subsequent drive that fell short to make a goal siphoned a little a lot more power from what was actually, a minimum of originally, a fairly rowdy crowd.West Virginia's first play after Allar's very early fumble swiftly declined into catastrophe when the breeze from center Brandon Yates blew the movement man as well as caromed deep in to the backfield, with Penn Condition ultimately ripping belongings away from quarterback Garrett Greene. The next Mountaineer foray right into Nittany Lions' area was foiled through a fallen short "tush guts" on 4th as well as quick as Greene was rebuffed at free throw line of skirmish. Two additional drives that gained 98 integrated backyards around the middle as well as second stages of the 2nd quarter slowed at the outer side of the reddish zone.Kotelnicki's offense was actually far more deliberate with each things that ventured into West Virginia area. The Nittany Lions stressed a 10-play, 71-yard march with a 20-yard goal coming from Allar to Allen and capped a three-play, 73-yard digestive tract punch when Allar zoomed a gorgeous toss to Wallace III for yet another rating along with:06 remaining in the second quarter, stretching the Penn Condition cause 14. Drew Allar gets in touch with Harrison Wallace III who drags his feet for a TD, expanding Penn Condition's top over West Virginia Play of the gameOnly a fraction of the crowd remained when play ultimately resumed at 4:23 p.m. and also the Nittany Lions leading by 14 factors. For the West Virginia faithful that remained-- each one of them having actually cuddled underneath the bleachers for greater than two hrs of lightning as well as downpours-- it was comprehended merely how crucial the position ownership of the 3rd quarter would certainly be. If Penn Condition got to completion region and pressed its advantage north of twenty, it was actually unlikely the Mountaineers will have any kind of odds to claw their back right into opinion based upon the anemic objectionable result from the initial half.A set of 10-yard shuffles from Allar and an effective swing exchange running back Nicholas Singleton moved the Nittany Lions across midfield with relative ease. Which's when Individual accented Penn State's victory along with a 40-yard goal run through the middle of West Virginia's protection. Pair of pulling electrician cleared a course that left Singleton untouched till he arrived at the third amount, where the smacking branch of protection Anthony Wilson Jr. was no place near sufficient to reduce the acceleration. Individual raced downfield as well as in to completion zone as Penn Condition's lead swelled to an overwhelming 21-point scope. The one-two strike of Individual and Allen combined for 167 hurrying yards (134 hurrying, 33 acquiring) as well as 2 touchdowns.Key statOne of the steering variables behind Franklin's selection to pursue Kotelnicki as his sixth objectionable planner in 11 seasons was because of the credibility and reputation for nitroglycerin plays at Kansas, where the Jayhawks had actually developed into a high-octane attack under Kotelnicki's support. In the course of a three-year stretch coming from 2021-23, the Jayhawks placed 12th nationally in percentage of plays acquiring a minimum of 20 gardens (8.3%) and 15th in portion of passing plays acquiring a minimum of 30 yards (3.9%). Kansas surpassed 40 aspects nine times in that stretch and covered fifty points 5 opportunities, even as bothersome personal injuries to beginning quarterback Jalon Daniels evaluated the outburst's adaptability.Those kinds of field-tilting gains uncovered on their own early as well as often in Kotelnicki's launching versus West Virginia on Saturday, along with Allar and also the staff's high-level operating back duo shredding the Mountaineers in additional methods, as well as stages, than one. Allar only required 11 fulfillments to surpass 200 passing gardens and also discover the end zone 3 opportunities via the air. Singleton averaged nearly 9 gardens every continue his first 13 efforts, two of which obtained 40 lawns as well as some of which discovered completion zone. Wallace surpassed 100 acquiring yards for the very first time in his profession on merely 5 receptions.By the 8:13 mark of the 4th one-fourth-- when the Nittany Lions began sending out wents of data backups onto the field-- Kotelnicki's offense was still averaging an awesome 8.4 lawns every play.What's upcoming for Penn State?Departing West Virginia with a thoroughly outstanding road success installs the Nittany Lions for a potential climb in the nationwide ranks in the coming weeks. Certainly not only will Penn Condition be a hefty fave in its own next four activities versus Bowling Environment-friendly, Kent State, Illinois and also UCLA-- the final 2 of which are conference enemies-- but they additionally won't need to leave behind the helpful limits of Beaver Coliseum. A quartet of home times maintains the Nittany Lions in Pennsylvania up until mid-October, whereupon they'll soar to California of what ought to be a high-profile competition along with Big Ten beginner USC. By then, Franklin's crew should be 5-0 total, 2-0 in the organization and also squarely in the discussion to get to the College Soccer Playoff for the very first time as the style extends to 12 staffs. And if Saturday's outrageous blast against the Mountaineers is any sort of sign of where Kotelnicki can take his system in the coming weeks, after that it might be worth including Penn State in dialogues about legitimate competitors for the Big 10 Championship and also the championship game. What is actually next for West Virginia?After an opener through which Penn State threw for 199 lawns as well as 3 touchdowns in the very first fifty percent alone, the priority for Brown as well as protective planner Jordan Lesley between right now and Full week 2 should be actually strengthening a leaking secondary. The Mountaineers stood 86th country wide and eighth in the Big 12 in passing defense final period despite having an all-conference cornerback in Beanie Diocesan Jr., whose 24 elapseds protected (four INTs, 20 separations) led the country. However Bishop is actually currently betting the Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as West Virginia's staying sections had a hard time to slow the Nittany Lions' downfield passing attack, particularly without the advantage of a worthwhile pass thrill. Northwestern transmission Garnett Hollis Jr., who got the major assignment against Wallace, was actually beaten for a 17-yard finalization on a push that finished along with Penn Condition hitting the end region and also later on surrendered a back-shoulder goal that broke the video game available not long prior to halftime. West Virginia should have a less complicated difficulty next Sunday versus Albany.Michael Cohen covers university volleyball as well as baseball for FOX Sports with an emphasis on the Big 10. Follow him at @Michael_Cohen13. [Want great tales delivered right to your inbox? Make or even log in to your FOX Athletics account, comply with organizations, groups and also players to obtain an individualized e-newsletter daily.] FOLLOW Observe your faves to tailor your FOX Athletics knowledge Receive extra coming from University Football Follow your favorites to get information concerning video games, updates and also more.