Notebook: Resilient defense short-circuits potential shootout

West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen congratulates fullback Eli Wellman after a second-half touchdown.AMES, Iowa — Saturday’s 49-19 victory over Iowa State could have evolved into a shootout if not for West Virginia’s defense being resilient on its half of the field.

“Our pass defense is pretty good in the red zone,” head coach Dana Holgorsen said. “We go against it all the time and it’s a nightmare for me going against our guys.”

The Cyclones penetrated West Virginia territory on 12 of 14 possessions yet never scored an offensive touchdown.

“I know (Tony Gibson) is probably a little upset over the amount of yards they had, but at the end of the day that’s not the stat that matters,” Holgorsen…