In Virginia the Mountaineers were facing their first ranked opponent this season and it certainly was a test as to whether the Mountaineer offense and defense can compete against a formidable Power 4 opponent that won 11 games last season and made it to the ACC Championship game before beating Missouri in the Gator Bowl. The answer NO PROBLEM. WVU certainly came out ready to play and staved off a fast start by the Cavaliers on route to well deserved victory over #24 team in the country. What the nations saw in this Nationally Televised contest on the ACC Network was above all that WVU has apparently found a quarterback that suits Rich Rodriguez fast paced spread offense. Throughout the game the commentators made repeated references to Patrick White who of course is now a Coach on Rodriguez staff who the showed many time during the broadcast. Is Michael Hawkins Jr another Pat White, not yet but who knows by the time he’s done, He certainly shows many of the same skill sets that the Mountaineer Legend did back in the Late 2000’s including trhe first WVU quarterback to throw for 2 TDs and rush for 3 more in a game since Pat White in 2008 against I believe Louisville.

This game started out as a back and for the affair with WVU getting the ball first and promptly going 3 and out. On the ensuing kick the #24 ranked Cavaliers went 62 yards on 12 plays to jump out to a 7-0 lead on an 8 yard TD run by Sr tailback Jekail Middlebrook. WVU would come right back on the next possession going 75 yards on just 8 plays highlighted by a 23 yard scamper by Cam Cook the star tailback transfer from Jacksonville State and ended with a beautiful 13 yard TD run by Michael Hawkins Jr hurtling over the last defender into the endzone and it was 7-7 and the fight was on.

After both teams traded punts, Virginia would once again take the lead going 55 yards on just 3 plays ending on a stunning 47-yard touchdown run by Senior tailback Xavier Brown and Virginia were once again in the lead at 14-7 but that would be the last time the Cavaliers would have the lead in this football game. After taking the ensuing kickoff the Mountaineers would storm right back and knot things up at 14-14 driving 75 yards on 9 plays ending with a beautiful 29 yard touchdown pass from Hawkins to Sr speedster D.J. Epps the transfer from Troy University.

After 5 consecutive punts, 3 by Virginia and 2 by WVU the Mountaineers would take the lead in this game driving 70 yards on 6 plays highlighted by a 42 yard pass from Hawkins to DJ Epps and ended with another Michael Hawkins Jr touchdown run, this time from 15 yards out and with 26 seconds to go in the first half it was 21-14 EERs. Virginia took the opening kickoff in the 2nd half and promptly went 3 and out but unfortunately so did the Mountaineers after receiving the Cavaliers punt. On the ensuing possession Virgina would drive 66 yards in 11 plays and to tie things up at 21-21 on a 1 yard touchdown pass by senior quarterback Beau Pribula to Middlebrook and with 7:09 remaining in the 3rd quarter that would be the last time this game would be tied. After both teams traded punts the Mountaineers would take control of the game on their next possession driving 83 yards on 8n plays to take a 28-21 lead on another beautiful 21 yard touchdown pass from Michael Hawkins Jr again to DJ Epps and with just 12 seconds to go in the 3rd quarter the Mountaineer’s would never lookback in this game.

After the Cav’s missed a 39-yard field goal the Mountaineers took advantage and drove 78 yards on 8 plays to take a commanding 35-21 lead on Michael Hawkins Jr’s 3rd TD run of the game, this time from 5 yards out. The highlight of the drive was a spectacular 39-yard reception by senior receiver Jaden Bray to the Virginia 24-yard line. And with 5:24 to go in the game this one was over. The EERs would add a 28 yard field goal and Virginia would score a touchdown with 26 seconds in the game to make the final score a somewhat more respectable 38-27 rather than 38-20.

In all it was a very good performance by the Mountaineer offence and a very solid effort by the WVU defense. Special teams was also very solid with no real errors. There were 7 penalties for 57 yards but they didn’t really hamper the Mountaineer effort in this game. The Cavaliers had 6 penalties for 58 yards so it was really a wash. This was a bit of a coming out party for Michael Hawkins Jr. rushing for 123 yards and 3 TDs and passing 10 of 17 for 190 yards and 2 TDs both to DJ Epps. Tailback Cam Cook who is really developed into Rich Rodriguez Bell Cow with 3ocarries in this game for 123 yards. DJ Epps had 93 yards and 2 TDs on just 3 receptions stepping into the EERs deep threat as we move forward into the rest of the season.

Through the first 3 games of the season the Mountaineers 3 offensive standouts have accumulated 899 yards and 11 touchdowns. Cook has rushed for 317 yards on 69 carries with 3 TDs while Hawkins Jr has rushed 44 times for 332 yards and 6 touchdowns. DJ Epps has incredibly accumulated 240 yards and 3 touchdowns on just 8 receptions. As a passer Michael Hawkins Jr. through 3 games, with the first two games coach Rodreguez clearly not focusing on the passing game, Hawkins has completed 26 of 38 for 477 yards and 5 touchdowns. In all it has been a great start to the 2026 season the 2nd year of the 2nd iteration of Power Spread Football that we will call Rich Rod 2.0. I am no very interested to see how WVU looks next Saturday night in Morgantown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. This is a school that WVU had terrible success against but did win 2 of the last 3 games both in Stillwater Oklahoma after losing 7 consecutive games with several them being noncompetitive.