West Virginia Football: 5 players who earned game balls vs. Kansas

LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Dana Holgorsen of the West Virginia Mountaineers watches as his team takes the field before the start of their game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at FedExField on September 3, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Dana Holgorsen of the West Virginia Mountaineers watches as his team takes the field before the start of their game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at FedExField on September 3, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 03: The West Virginia Mountaineers take the field before the start of their game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at FedExField on September 3, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 03: The West Virginia Mountaineers take the field before the start of their game against the Virginia Tech Hokies at FedExField on September 3, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Coming up from his safety spot Saturday, Stewart made two tackles in the backfield on his way to a 5 tackle performance, his single-best game to date.

He didn’t make a huge sack that forced a punt or intercept any passes, but Stewart’s toughness in the run game is just what Tony Gibson and the Mountaineers need. Missed tackles were a problem against Kansas, but there’s still a lot of youth on this defense, Stewart included.

No player on this list so far has been with the program for longer than two years; McDougle’s a true freshman and Tonkery and Stewart are sophomores. The next player receiving a game ball is a bit more experienced, but still learning the ropes in Morgantown: Mike Daniels.