Big East News Articles

Game Preview - West Virginia vs. UNLV

Milan Puskar Stadium (60,000/Field Turf) Morgantown, W.Va. THE GAME Saturday’s game will be the first meeting between West Virginia and UNLV … It marks the second straight game in which the Mountaineers face an opponent for the first time. WEST VIRGINIA (3-1) Head Coach Bill Stewart (Fairmont State ’75) 22-9, third season at West Virginia 30-34, sixth year as collegiate head coach NOTES West Virginia looks to rebound from its first loss of the season, a 20-14 setback at Louisiana State Sept. 25 … The Mountaineers did not play last week … Saturday’s game is the first of three straight home games for West Virginia, which has visits from USF and Syracuse up next … After gaining at least 400 yards in each of its first three games, West Virginia was held to just 177 yards of offense against LSU … The Mountaineers have turned the ball over 10 times through four games … RB Noel Devine was slowed by a foot injury against LSU, but still ranks fourth in the BIG EAST in rushing this season at 97.8 yards per game … Devine has 87 carries for 391 yards and two touchdowns … QB Geno Smith has completed 85 of 130 passes for 919 yards and nine TDs and two interceptions … Smith ranks second in the BIG EAST in passing (229.8 yards per game) … WR Jock Sanders and WR Tavon Austin both average 6.0 receptions per game … The Mountaineers lead the BIG EAST in total defense (249.2 yards per game) and are second in scoring defense (14.5 ppg) … LB Anthony Leonard has a team-high 27 tackles, while DE Bruce Irvin has a team-high three sacks. UNLV (1-4, 1-1 Mountain West) Head Coach Bobby Hauck (Montana ’88) 1-4, first season at UNLV 81-21, eighth season as collegiate head coach NOTES UNLV was unable to get back-to-back wins as the Rebels dropped a 44-26 decision to No. 25 Nevada last Saturday in Las Vegas … UNLV’s ledger also includes losses to Wisconsin (ranked No. 12 at the time) and Utah (No. 20) … The lone win was a 45-10 decision against New Mexico … The Rebles will play their first game in the Eastern time zone since 2004 with Saturday’s visit to West Virginia … UNLV ranks 110th nationally in total offense (286.4 yards per game) … QB Omar Clayton is a dual-threat player who has thrown for 748 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 148 yards and one TD … S Mike Clausen was the Opening Day starter at quarterback, but has since moved to safety … RB Channing Trotter has rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown on 48 carries … WR Phillip Payne and WR Michael Johnson are tied for the team lead with 23 receptions each … Johnson has three touchdown receptions, while Payne has two … CB Will Chandler has a team-high four interceptions, good for third nationally … Head coach Bobby Hauck is in his first year in Las Vegas after spending seven seasons at Montana, where he advanced to the title games of three NCAA Championships.