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No. 12 WVU opens Big 12 play against K-State

MORGANTOWN — Redshirt senior quarterback Will Grier and his Mountaineer teammates have had the type of beginning they all dreamed of when the finals moments of the 2017 season came to a close at the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl.

A season-opening 40-14 victory over the University of Tennessee at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., was followed by a home opening 52-17 thrashing of Youngstown State.

Now, after Hurricane Florence forced the cancellation of last weekend’s game at N.C. State, Grier and the rest of No. 12 ranked West Virginia will get their first taste of Big 12 conference play when unranked Kansas State (2-1) rolls into Milan Puskar Stadium.

“I think our mindset as players and as leaders is the mindset that we need to instill in this team is just take it one game at a time,” Grier said during Tuesday’s media conference. “Tennessee wasn’t in our conference, but we looked at that as the biggest game for us that week. It was the same with Youngstown State, and now it’s Kansas State. From an outsider perspective it’s kind of different, but for us in our locker room we’re going to try to keep that one game at a time mentality.”

A lot of those expectations will ride on the throwing arm of the former-University of Florida signal-caller.

“That’s how I’m wired, but I think you can put that competitiveness into doing it the smarter way,” he said. “I’ve tried to do that, transform the way I play and get away from those kinds of plays. I’m used it in a different way. I’m going to continue to grow in that area and get better as the season goes.”

Grier was at his best – and worst at times – in WVU’s 28-23 win in Manhattan, Kansas a year ago. The North Carolina native completed 27 of his 46 passes for 372 yards and four touchdowns, but also tossed a pair of first half interceptions which allowed the Wildcats to stay in the game at the intermission, 28-20.

Both defenses took over during the final 30 minutes with Matthew McCrane’s 39-yard field goal for the ‘Cats being the only points put on the scoreboard as WVU left Bill Snyder Family Stadium with its first win at the site — the second straight victory by the Mountaineers after four straight losses to KSU.

“Both games we played good defense against Kansas State,” redshirt junior linebacker David Long Jr said. “We just played them hard. The offense made some plays that got us the win, but I don’t remember too many things specifically during the game that helped us out. I do know that we played some great defense last year. Will Grier and his guys made some plays too.”

Long and his defensive mates will see some familiar faces when they line up against the visitors for the 3:30 p.m. kickoff on ESPN.

“The whole offensive line is back,” added Long. “The two quarterbacks are probably going to be new to us. We’re all planned for it, we had a week to prepare. We can keep preparing this week.”

Dalvin Warmack, who rushed for 96 yards on 14 carries, may be gone but K-State returns junior Alex Barnes (51 carries, 228 yards, 1 TD) as well as sophomore quarterback Skylar Thompson (28-of-49, 360 yards, 4 TDs), who completed half of his 26 attempts for 159 yards and two interceptions in last year’s loss.

GAME NOTES

¯Saturday marks the 28th induction into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame. This class includes Kate Bulger (women’s basketball), Jon Capon (men’s soccer), Avon Cobourne (football), Mike Gansey (men’s basketball), Tom Keane (football), Larry Krutko (football), Eleanor Lamb (administration), Bev Fry Plocki (gymnastics), Pat White (football), Steve Slaton (football) and Web Wright (rifle).

¯The game will nationally televised on ESPN with Clay Matvick providing the play-by-play, Dan Orlovsky the analysis and Paul Carcaterra walking the sidelines.

¯KSU holds a 5-3 series edge against the Mountaineers.

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