University of Charleston football coach Pat Kirkland has said he's wanted his passing game to become a better bookend to the running game in the Golden Eagles offense. In Saturday's 45-25 loss at Shepherd, UC relied on that passing game more than in any game but one in nearly 11 years.
The Golden Eagles (1-1, 1-1 Mountain East Conference) attempted 42 passes against the Rams. That matched the 42 UC threw last season in a loss to Concord. The last time Charleston eclipsed that total was when it attempted 45 passes in a 28-20 loss to Austin Peay on Oct. 30, 2004.
Kirkland acknowledged that taking to the air so much versus the Rams was not the original game plan.
"We want to be balanced," Kirkland said. "The amount that we threw was a little misleading, because we had some run-pass options that ended up being pass options, whether it was the right read or not. The game dictated that. We got down early ... They were moving the ball offensively and we felt we needed to throw the ball to get some points on the board."
After heavy rain and lightning in Shepherdstown pushed kickoff from noon to 1:15 p.m., Shepherd kick returner C.J. Davis took the opening kick 96 yards for a touchdown, putting Charleston behind 7-0 just 14 seconds into the game.
Charleston completed 19 of 42 passes for 184 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions. Jeremy Johnson went 10 for 19 for 125 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions, while Mason Olszewski completed 9 of 23 for 59 yards and two picks.
Those four turnovers matched last years' season-high against West Liberty. The Golden Eagles already have six turnovers this season - a fumble and five interceptions. UC had just 17 turnovers, and threw just eight interceptions, in 10 games last year. No coach is satisfied with five picks in two games, but the chances for turnovers go up the more a team throws.
Still, Kirkland remains confident in Charleston's passing game, mainly because of the players who comprise it.
"I think, personnel-wise, we're better at receiver and at quarterback," he said. "We're just better than we have been in years past. Secondly, I think we have a little more confidence in what we're doing because of the talent and the experience we have at those positions."
nnn
West Virginia State lost its home opener Saturday versus Urbana, 30-23, on the Blue Knights' 38-yard touchdown pass with six seconds left, but the Yellow Jackets had plenty of chances to change the complexion of that game.
State pushed the ball inside the Urbana 20 twice, but fumbled it away. Another drive reached the Urbana 23, but Anthony Herrera's 40-yard field goal try was blocked. The Yellow Jackets also had a 2-point conversion pass attempt intercepted. WVSU coach Jon Anderson said his team couldn't squander so many chances to put points on the board. The State offense went turnover-free in its season-opening 59-34 win over Fairmont State.
"We want to move the football and give ourselves scoring opportunities," Anderson said. "Last week, we were 6-for-6 in the red zone ,,, When we're down there, we have to come away with points. And at the end of the day, we left too many opportunities ... we left too many points in the red zone."
State went 3-for-5 in the red zone Saturday, but errors weren't just limited to the offense. The defense, though it recorded three turnovers, gave up 18.1 yards per completion. And, on top of the blocked field goal, a snap went over punter Kole Patterson's head and into the end zone for a safety.
State nearly paid for another couple of mistakes, but recovered with a solid defensive stand and big special-teams play. WVSU was called for unsportsmanlike conduct following Matt Kinnick's 39-yard second-quarter touchdown pass to Quinton Gray. That forced the Yellow Jackets to kick off from their 20, which Urbana returned to the State 43. A pair of late-hit penalties helped Urbana reach the State 7, but the drive stalled there and Jesse Umeh blocked a 24-yard Ross Snodgrass field goal with 35 seconds left in the half.
"The perfect game is unattainable, but that's what we shoot for," Anderson said. "We've got to find ways to minimize mistakes and learn from those mistakes with a young team going forward."