The first delay lasted three hours after a WVU touchdown -- Tavon Austin's
electrifying 100-yard kickoff return late in the third quarter.
Geno Smith passed for 249 yards and two scores for the Mountaineers (1-0), who
elevated Holgorsen to head coach a year early following the resignation of
Bill Stewart in June.
"I'm proud of the kids as far as how they handled the situation," said
Holgorsen. "I'm glad it turned out the way it did. ... It would have been hard
for those kids to go back out there after eight hours. I think common sense
takes place at some point."
Marshall (0-1) is winless in 11 meetings against West Virginia, a series known
as the "Friends of Coal" Bowl.
The Thundering Herd, looking to rebound from a five-win campaign, got off to a
quick start when Andre Booker returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown for the
game's opening score.
But true freshman Rakeem Cato was unable to get much going under center,
throwing for just 115 yards on 15-of-21 efficiency.
West Virginia got on the board late in the opening stanza via Tyler
Bitancurt's 27-yard field goal, and Smith hit Ivan McCartney over the middle
for a four-yard, go-ahead score early in the second.
The Mountaineers converted four third-down tries on their next possession, and
the 13-play, 62-yard march ended with Stedman Bailey hauling in a 15-yard TD
on a deep slant.
Bitancurt and Tyler Warner exchanged field goals of 43 and 24 yards,
respectively, heading into the break.
Midway through the third, the Herd had 1st-and-goal from the three-yard line
but wound up settling for a 21-yard Warner field goal.
Austin returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards, first turning it up the left
sideline, then weaving between defenders and past the kicker at midfield en
route to the highlight-reel score.
The skies opened up from there, and Marshall went three-and-out after play
resumed.
Soon after WVU's Vernard Roberts ran for a one-yard score on the second play
of the fourth quarter, officials evacuated the stadium for a second time
because of an impending storm.
Game Notes
West Virginia has won eight straight season openers....Marshall head coach Doc
Holliday spent 23 years as a Mountaineer assistant...Tron Martinez led
Marshall's ground game with 76 yards on 10 carries...Bailey led all receivers
with 76 yards on five catches.
09/05 00:41:14 ET
