West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen burned tailback Martell Pettaway’s redshirt in November of Pettway’s freshman season, and it still makes Holgorsen mad that he had to do it. The Mountaineers lost starter Justin Crawford and backup Kennedy McKoy to injury while facing Iowa State, and the lone capable back who knew the offense was Pettaway.
“He was our only option,” Holgorsen says. “So we pulled his redshirt game 11. That ain’t fair to that kid. But he was like ‘Whatever I’ve got to do to help the team.’” Pettaway did more than help. He gained 180 yards on 30 carries and scored a touchdown, and West Virginia pulled away in the second half for a 49–19 win.