The Shotgun/Throwdown (10/29/18): West Virginia Controls Own Destiny Ahead Of High Stakes Matchup With Texas

Welcome, By-Godders, to The Shotgun/Throwdown, WVU’s best place for sports links, information, sophomoric humor and daily distractions.

Football

West Virginia holds own destiny in Big 12 football championship race | WV News
As October turns to November, West Virginia turns into the home stretch of its season and it holds its fate in its own hands.

Patchwork Mountaineer Defense Ready For Next Challenge Against Texas | West Virginia Athletics
West Virginia University junior linebacker David Long Jr. said he felt like the Mountaineer defense lost a little respect a week and a half ago when Iowa State put 30 points on the scoreboard in a 16-point Cyclone victory. Mission accomplished. The Mountaineer Dawgs got some of their mojo back Thursday night against Baylor.

The stakes are finally elevated as West Virginia prepares for Texas | WV MetroNews
When West Virginia joined the Big 12 in 2012, it stood to reason that one day there would be a game against Texas with major implications. Sure enough, it only took five weeks for it to happen. The No. 8 Mountaineers and No. 11 Longhorns met on the first weekend of October in that first season, setting the table for a potential rivalry in the making. It did not become an annual tradition.

How does home stretch set up for Will Grier, other Heisman hopefuls? | WV MetroNews
As the 2018 college football season moves towards the home stretch, the Heisman Trophy race feels a bit like one of Usain Bolt’s Olympic sprints.

Football Names Award Winners For The Baylor Game | West Virginia Athletics
The West Virginia University football coaching staff has named its award winners for outstanding performances in the Mountaineers' 58-14 win against Baylor on Thursday, Oct. 27.

Mountaineers back to full strength at running back | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Prior to Thursday’s game against Baylor, it had been a long time since the West Virginia University football team had its full complement of running backs.

West Virginia offensive coordinator Jake Spavital keeps eye on spreading wealth | WV News
West Virginia offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, like most any assistant coach, is a busy man during games. Checking opposing defenses, conferring with his fellow assistants, and figuring out formations and play calls in the heat of the contest combine to make for something of a frenzied atmosphere.

Basketball

WVU-Penn State Set for Noon Tip | West Virginia Athletics
The charity exhibition men's basketball game between West Virginia and Penn State will tip at noon at the WVU Coliseum on Saturday, Nov. 3.

WVU basketball: Knowledge is power for senior forward Esa Ahmad | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Last season didn’t quite go as planned for West Virginia University forward Esa Ahmad. Though it came after missing the first 16 games, Ahmad’s scoring average dropped by more than point from his sophomore to junior seasons (11.3 to 10.2), and he also saw his field goal percentage take a slight dip from an even 48 percent to 45.5.

West Virginia Athletics

WVU Rallies to Win Conference Title | West Virginia Athletics
A pair of late goals lifted the West Virginia University men's soccer team to its first Mid-American Conference regular-season title with a dramatic, 3-2 victory over Bowling Green on Friday night.

No. 13 Mountaineers Ice Sooners | West Virginia Athletics
Three second-half goals, including the game-winner just 28 seconds out of the locker room, pushed the No. 13-ranked and second-seeded West Virginia University women's soccer team to a 3-0 win over seventh-seeded Oklahoma in the quarterfinals of the 2018 Big 12 Soccer Championship this evening at Swope Soccer Village.

No. 2 Mountaineers Cruise to Victory | West Virginia Athletics
The No. 2-ranked West Virginia University rifle team earned its second win of the weekend with a 4703-4556 victory over Coast Guard Sunday afternoon at Army West Point's Tronsrue Marksmanship Center in West Point, New York.

Around the Big 12

Big 12 basketball notebook: Plenty of preseason hype for K-State's Dean Wade | Charleston Gazette-Mail
Dean Wade led Kansas State in scoring last season, but a stress fracture in his foot kept him out of action during the Wildcats’ postseason run that ended in the Elite Eight.

Kansas football fans have stormed the field after 66% of home wins since 2014 | SBNation
They don’t have very many chances!

Around the NCAA

The College Football Empires Map: Georgia and Michigan State join leaders | SBNation
Every FBS team started with land, and every week winners take more and more.

THIS WEEK IN SCHADENFREUDE, Texas fans are absolutely hopping mad | SBNation
Texas leads a wide-ranging tour of the angry college football internet after Week 9.

Every single 2018 Power 5 title game could include a WTF team | SBNation
Which of college football’s surprise success stories has the best chance of finishing strong?

Clemson has a case for No. 1: Predicting the Playoff committee’s first 2018 top 25 | SBNation
The first College Football Playoff rankings of the year will roll out Tuesday night. Here’s what to expect.

6 absurd things that are all true about college football at this exact moment | SBNation
Plus a bunch of other fun things from Week 9 in college football, including an FSU fan reading a book and an Iowa mascot taking a football to the nuts.

The Red Sox are World Series champs and the bullies they’ve always wanted to be | SBNation
The 2018 World Series is over, and it’s a familiar tale of success for one team, and a familiar tale of disappointment for another.

10 scary sports horror stories to read for Halloween | SBNation
Welcome to SB Nation’s Forest of Fright

Ryan Fitzpatrick proved that ‘Fitzmagic’ never actually dies | SBNation
The Monday Morning Pleighbook is a collection of the best things in the NFL from week to week.

WARNING: MINOR SPOILERS

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