Run game lifts WVU to victory

QB Rasheed Marshall had 110 yards rushing in the 31-19 win over UConn.
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez was more concerned about the 89 yards in penalties than the 300-plus yards of rushing offense piled up by his Mountaineers.
"That's the first thing I told the team after the game," Rodriguez said. "We preached it and some of them just killed offensive drives. One took away a touchdown."
But Rasheed Marshall made up for most of the mistakes Wednesday night as 17th-ranked West Virginia racked up 309 yards of rushing offense in a 31-19 win over Connecticut.
A first-half penalty nullified a 51-yard TD run by Adam Jones on a reverse and the Mountaineers had to settle for a 10-6 lead at the half.
But Marshall, a senior quarterback, helped West Virginia overcome its mistakes, rushing for 110 yards, throwing for a touchdown and even punting a quick kick.
He sensed he could have a big night on the ground against the Huskies.
"I thought I would have a chance, especially how tight their linebackers play to the line of scrimmage," Marshall said. "I thought if I could get outside a lot on them; I could put them in for a long day."
On the brink
One more day like that and Marshall will rewrite the Big East record book. His 1,518 yards rushing is 44 yards shy of the career quarterback mark held by Syracuse's Donovan McNabb.
"He was very sharp mentally," said Rodriguez, who thought his quarterback could have racked up even more yards if he stayed inbounds more.
"I had to remind him three times during the game. I said, 'Make them catch you.' "
His 34-yard quick-kick punt proved to be a big one. West Virginia held a 10-6 lead late in the third quarter when Marshall's punt pinned UConn down on its own 2-yard line.
Two plays later West Virginia safety Mike Lorello intercepted a pass that bounced off the foot of UConn receiver Keron Henry and ran it in 21 yards for 17-6 lead and the Mountaineers (5-1, 1-0) had control the rest of the way.
On the next possession, Marshall hit Chris Henry for a 49-yard TD pass to extend the lead to 18 and send most of the 40,000 fans streaming for the exits.
Marshall repeatedly rescued an offense that sputtered for almost three quarters. With leading rusher Kay-Jay Harris sidelined with injuries, Marshall and Jayson Colson kept the Mountaineers' ground game going, racking up 309 yards. Colson finished with 111 yards and one TD.
Lorello intercepted UConn quarterback Dan Orlovsky again midway through the fourth quarter, killing another drive.