Baylor football: 3 takeaways from tight win over West Virginia
By Phil Poling
2. West Virginia’s defense is (still) really good
Star defensive tackle for the Mountaineers, Darius Stills, said after the first drive Thursday night to ESPN’s sideline reporter Molly McGrath, “Make sure you report that Baylor is soft up front.” A bold statement to make so early in a contest, but McGrath granted Stills’ wish and told the broadcast crew. And he wasn’t wrong.
Stills racked up three sacks against the Bears and kept the 12th-best scoring offense in the country in check, helping hold them to just 17 points. And if it weren’t for a couple Mountaineer penalties on the Bears’ first scoring drive, it likely would’ve been even less. An offsides penalty on a 3rd & short and a targeting call that sent Josh Norwood to an early shower helped usher the Bears into the redzone. They scored a touchdown one play after getting down there.
But it was behind the strength of Stills – both Darius and his brother Dante — along with Tykee Smith, Dylan Tonkery and a handful of others that put the ‘Eers in a position to win. The young Mountaineer team fought tooth and nail with the 12th-ranked team in the country — in a night game — on the road. There are no moral victories, but seeing such a young team battle, especially with the lack of punch the offense provided, is encouraging for the future of WVU football.