Mountaineers Dominated By Utes In Heart Of Dallas Bowl
The West Virginia offense failed to show up for the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Mountaineers dominated by Utah after gaining only 153 total yards in a 30-14 loss.
With starting quarterback Will Grier, starting running back Justin Crawford and a pair of offensive linemen all out, the offense was miserable. WVU will head into the offseason with a third straight loss.
Utah was not overwhelming, but their defensive line completely controlled the Mountaineer running game. That combined with the inaccuracy of Chris Chugunov allowed the Utes to completely control the game. After a 58-yard touchdown run on the Utes opening drive, the Mountaineers were never able to get enough going on offense to get over the hump.
Offensive coordinator Jake Spavital talked about some of the issues the Mountaineer offense faced during the loss.
In the postgame interview Coach Dana Holgorsen and Mountaineer players discussed the loss in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
The Mountaineers aspired to have three different receivers reach 1,000 yards. David Sills needed 20 yards and Ka’Raun White needed 22 yards. This would have made WVU the first Power 5 team to have three receivers reach 1,000 yards as well as a running back do it in the same season.
Sills had zero receptions. He was targeted two times but wasn’t close to catching either pass. White got it done, with three catches for 26 yards and a late touchdown.
Chris Chugunov had a very difficult time getting anything going in the passing attack. He finished 9-of-28 for 129 yards with a touchdown and two picks. He was also sacked twice.
To Chugunov’s credit, the rushing attack was abysmal. WVU finished with 29 team rushing yards.
You have to go back to 2003 to find such a dismal offensive performance for the Mountaineers. In 2003 the Mountaineers were only able to gain 156 yards against Maryland.
The win takes Kyle Whittingham to 11-1 in bowl games. Dana Holgorsen dropped to 2-4 and is now on a two-game winning streak.