WVU blanks Coastal Carolina

Associated Press

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.

West Virginia’s offense looked as if it was still on summer vacation for most of the first half. Then quarterback Geno Smith got the Mountaineers moving against an FCS opponent in his first career start.

Smith threw two touchdown passes and showed maturity in the pocket, while Noel Devine rushed for 111 yards and a score, leading No. 25 West Virginia to a 31-0 win over Coastal Carolina on Saturday.

The Mountaineers crawled to a 10-0 halftime lead before an offense led by Smith and Devine scored on three of its first four drives of the second half, and the defense didn’t allow Coastal Carolina inside the 20-yard line all game.

West Virginia earned its first shutout since a 38-0 win at Cincinnati in 2005 and its first home shutout win since beating Rutgers 48-0 in 1997.

“I’m pleased with the way our defense played, reacted and took control of the game,” said West Virginia coach Bill Stewart.

Defensive lineman Scooter Berry summarized the effort with a simple message on his Twitter account: “Doughnut.”

The defense might be counted on to duplicate the effort until the offense can put together a complete game.