MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia’s Tavon Austin just can’t get enough of Maryland.
Austin caught three touchdown passes against his homestate Terrapins and No. 8 West Virginia outlasted Maryland 31-21 on Saturday.
A Baltimore native, Austin accounted for half of West Virginia’s offense, catching 13 passes for 179 yards and setting a school record for career receptions.
“It was my last time playing Maryland,” said Austin, a senior. “So there was a little bit on the line for me.”
It’s a good thing for the Mountaineers he felt that way.
Despite scoring two early touchdowns, West Virginia (3-0) looked flat at times, after averaging 56 points and 612 yards in its first two games against non-BCS conference opponents.
The Mountaineers punted on four of their first five possessions of the second half but wouldn’t let Maryland (2-2) cut the lead under 10 in beating the Terrapins for the seventh consecutive time.
“We didn’t play our best offensively,” West Virginia Coach Dana Holgorsen said. “But it was enough.”
Leading rusher Shawne Alston was limited by a thigh bruise and didn’t get a carry. West Virginia was held to 25 yards on the ground.
Geno Smith often threw into tough coverage and had as many incompletions in the first half (nine) as he did in the first two games combined. He spent a lot of time getting knocked on his backside and finished 30 of 43 for 338 yards.
“I wasn’t as sharp as I wanted to be,” Smith said. “That’s a credit to Maryland. They did a great job of mixing things up and giving us different looks.”
Smith found a groove just before halftime, throwing for 64 yards on a drive capped by a 24-yard pass to Austin alone in the end zone for a 24-14 lead.
Maryland freshman Perry Hills threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns, two to freshman Stefon Diggs.
Hills had some success moving the Maryland offense with misdirection plays and screen passes. Maryland had more yards at halftime (212) than it did all of last week in a home loss to Connecticut.
But Hills was sacked five times and had little luck in the second half. With Maryland facing fourth-and-21 from its 32 with four minutes left in the game, Hills was intercepted by Wes Tonkery at the West Virginia 28 and the Mountaineers ran out the clock.
In another game involving a Big 12 team, Brandon Carter went 68 yards for a touchdown on one of his one-handed catches, linebacker Kenny Cain recovered a fumble along with two interceptions and 17th-ranked TCU (3-0) beat Virginia (2-2) 27-7 in Fort Worth.
CONFERENCE USA
Marshall wins in 2OT
HOUSTON — Kevin Grooms rushed for three touchdowns, including the game-winner in double-overtime, as Marshall defeated Rice 54-51 Saturday in the Conference USA opener for both schools.
Grooms’ 5-yard touchdown run in double-overtime came after the Thundering Herd (2-2) held the Owls (1-3) to a field goal on their possession.
Groom had 103 yards rushing on 12 carries, Steward Butler added 166 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, and Marshall finished with 334 yards on the ground. Rakeem Cato was 28 of 39 for 259 yards and 2 touchdowns.
That was enough to overcome Rice quarterback Taylor McHargue, who threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 153 yards and a score.
In another game involving a Conference USA team, Sean Renfree threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns to lead Duke (3-1) past Memphis (0-4) 38-14 in Durham, N.C. Renfree was 26 of 37 with touchdown passes covering 37 and 31 yards to Conner Vernon, 16 yards to Desmond Scott and 8 yards to Brandon Connette for the Blue Devils.
BIG EAST
Pitt punishes
PITTSBURGH — Tino Sunseri passed for 344 yards and three touchdowns to lead Pittsburgh past overmatched Gardner-Webb 55-10. Mike Shanahan caught 5 passes for a career-high 144 yards and 2 scores for the Panthers (2-2), who shook off a slow start to crush the Runnin’ Bulldogs (0-4).
Sports, Pages 36 on 09/23/2012