Cook, Hawkins lead West Virginia over Coastal Carolina 31-24
West Virginia jumped out to a big first-half lead, then held on for a 31-24 victory over Coastal Carolina
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Cam Cook rushed for 142 yards and two short touchdowns, Michael Hawkins Jr. threw for one score and passed for another TD, and West Virginia held on for a 31-24 win over Coastal Carolina in the teams’ season opener Saturday.
On a day in which West Virginia retired the No. 5 jersey of record-setting quarterback Pat White, the Mountaineers dominated the game early but looked disheveled on both sides of the ball for much of the second half.
Coastal Carolina's Nico Cavanillas Alti kicked a 32-yard field goal with 27 seconds left to cap the Chanticleers' rally from a 24-0 deficit. But the ensuing onside kick went out of bounds and West Virginia survived.
With 88 new players on the roster, it’s going to take some time for West Virginia to work the kinks out, especially on defense.
At least they’re set with two marquee positions on offense.
Cook ran 72 yards up the left sideline on the first play from scrimmage to set up his 3-yard TD run. The transfer from Jacksonville State, who led the nation with 1,659 rushing yards last season, went over 100 yards early in the second quarter.
Hawkins, a transfer from Oklahoma, had a stellar debut on the ground with 103 yards on 20 carries.
Hawkins led scoring drives on three of West Virginia’s first four possessions. West Virginia had 336 total yards in the first half and raced to a 24-0 lead. But the Mountaineers punted on their first four possessions of the second half and were limited to 77 yards after halftime.
Hawkins had an 11-yard TD run late in the game after a Coastal Carolina punt went out of bounds at its 35-yard line. Hawkins also threw a 49-yard scoring toss in the first quarter to Armoni Weaver-Bomar.
Hawkins’ only hiccup came when he fumbled while reaching for the pylon and the ball went through the end zone for a touchback early in the second quarter. Hawkins finished 11-of-14 passing for 132 yards.
West Virginia's defense surrendered just five first downs in the first half, then looked porous after halftime. Redshirt freshman quarterback Deuce Bailey threw three touchdown passes for Coastal Carolina, which outgained West Virginia 425-413.
Coastal Carolina: Bailey, a redshirt freshman who followed new coach Ryan Beard to the Chanticleers from Missouri State, had second-half TD tosses of 37 and 34 yards to Clayton Coppock and 13 yards to Colton Hinton. Bailey completed 21 of 37 passes for 373 yards.
West Virginia: Cook and Hawkins looked as good as advertised but the team's struggles in the second half will need fixing.
Coastal Carolina hosts Fordham of the Championship Subdivision on Saturday.
West Virginia hosts FCS member UT Martin on Saturday.
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