Marshall Thundering Herd vs West Virginia Mountaineers Box Score on Sep 04, 2011

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 4, 2011

West Virginia overcame multiple weather delays and an early challenge from in-state rival Marshall to make Dana Holgorsen a winner in his debut as Mountaineers coach.

Geno Smith threw two touchdown passes, and Tavon Austin had a momentum-shifting 100-yard kick return to lift the Mountaineers to a 34-13 win in a game that was called early in the fourth quarter Sunday in Morgantown, W.V.

Austin’s big return put the Mountaineers up 27-13 with five minutes left in the third quarter. The game was suspended at that point and wouldn’t resume until 8:45 ET, a three-hour, three-minute delay.

West Virginia scored on its opening possession after the delay, only to have the game stopped again by lightning in the area. The game was called at approximately 10:30 ET, seven hours after it kicked off.

Corey Smith’s 55-yard punt return gave Marshall the early 7-0 lead, but West Virginia scored the game’s next 20 points and never trailed again.

Rakeem Cato became the first true freshman to start for Marshall at quarterback since Chad Pennington in 1995. Cato completed 15-of-20 passes for 115 yards, but couldn’t get the Thundering Herd in the end zone.

West Virginia improved to 10-0 all-time against Marshall.