MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — After a scoreless first half Saturday in which West Virginia dug itself a 13-point hole, West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen evaluated himself as much as his players.
He recognized out-of-whack play-calling — 23 pass plays vs. only 12 runs — which exposed his offensive tackles to Kansas State’s pass rush.
Platooning right tackles Marcell Lazard and Colton McKivitz weren’t slowing down K-State defensive end Jordan Willis, which made for a weak pocket and sped up quarterback Skyler Howard’s internal clock. Though West Virginia desperately needed better execution, Holgorsen also had to restrain himself from panicking into catch-up mode.