West Virginia needed an early-season victory that could give this football team confidence, establish its identity, and build momentum moving forward.
The Mountaineers got exactly that against Virginia.
This wasn’t just another win on the schedule. It was the type of performance that can bring excitement back to a program and give players something to build on as the season progresses.
And at the center of it all was quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., whose dynamic playmaking ability brought back memories of one of the greatest quarterbacks in West Virginia football history: Pat White.
For longtime Mountaineer fans, watching a quarterback use his legs to create explosive plays, put pressure on a defense, and make something happen when a play breaks down is a familiar sight. Hawkins gave WVU fans a little taste of that old-school Mountaineer football.
MICHAEL HAWKINS JR. PUTS ON A PAT WHITE-TYPE PERFORMANCE
Let’s be clear: I’m not saying Michael Hawkins Jr. is Pat White. Pat White is a West Virginia legend, and what he accomplished in Morgantown speaks for itself.
But if you watched Hawkins against Virginia and didn’t get a little nostalgic, I don’t know what game you were watching.
Hawkins finished with 190 passing yards, 123 rushing yards, and five total touchdowns, throwing for two scores and running for three more. He accounted for all five of West Virginia’s touchdowns in the 38-27 victory over No. 25 Virginia.
It wasn’t just the numbers. It was how he controlled the game. His ability to make plays with his legs forced Virginia to account for him on every snap. When the Cavaliers focused on stopping the run, Hawkins showed he could make plays through the air.
That is what made Pat White so dangerous during his time at West Virginia. Defenses couldn’t just worry about the running backs. They had to account for the quarterback, too.
Hawkins gave Virginia that same problem. He was explosive, elusive, and dangerous whenever he had the football in his hands.
And for a West Virginia program trying to establish itself under Rich Rodriguez, having a quarterback capable of creating that kind of pressure on a defense is a major advantage.
WVU SHOWED IT COULD HANDLE ADVERSITY
One of the biggest takeaways from this victory was how West Virginia responded when things weren’t going its way.
Virginia jumped out to a 14-7 first-quarter lead, but the Mountaineers didn’t panic. They answered with 14 unanswered points in the second quarter to take a 21-14 halftime lead. Virginia eventually tied the game at 21 in the third quarter, but WVU responded again, with Hawkins finding DJ Epps for a 21-yard touchdown to regain the lead.
That response was important.
Early in a season, you want to find out how your football team handles adversity. It’s easy to look good when you’re playing with a comfortable lead and everything is going your way.
But what happens when a ranked opponent punches you in the mouth? What happens when you lose momentum? What happens when you have to make a play with the game hanging in the balance?
West Virginia answered those questions against Virginia. The Mountaineers didn’t fold. They kept competing, trusted their offense, and made the plays necessary to finish the job.
That’s the kind of performance that can build confidence throughout an entire locker room.
CAM COOK GIVES WVU ANOTHER DANGEROUS WEAPON
As impressive as Hawkins was, he wasn’t carrying the entire offense by himself.
Running back Cam Cook delivered another strong performance, rushing for 123 yards on 30 carries. West Virginia finished with 247 rushing yards and 437 total yards, outgaining Virginia by 83 yards.
Cook’s ability to move the chains and keep the offense on schedule was important. When you have a quarterback who can hurt defenses with his legs and a running back who can consistently pick up yards, it creates problems for opposing defensive coordinators.
Who do you focus on? Do you commit additional defenders to stopping the running back and risk Hawkins taking off? Or do you focus on containing Hawkins and give Cook more opportunities?
That is the beauty of a productive dual-threat offense.
And with Rich Rodriguez calling the shots, this is the style of football that longtime WVU fans remember.
THE DEFENSE DESERVES CREDIT, TOO
Hawkins will receive much of the attention, and deservedly so, but West Virginia’s defense played an important role in the victory.
The Mountaineers limited Virginia to 354 total yards and held the Cavaliers to six conversions on 16 third-down attempts. WVU also recorded three sacks against Virginia quarterback Beau Pribula.
Virginia had its moments offensively, but West Virginia made enough stops to give its offense opportunities to take control.
The Mountaineers didn’t need their defense to be perfect. They needed it to make plays at critical moments.
And against a ranked opponent, those stops can be the difference between a big victory and a disappointing loss.
A 3-0 START GIVES WEST VIRGINIA SOMETHING TO BUILD ON
With the victory, West Virginia improves to 3-0 for the first time since 2018. That’s significant for a program looking to build consistency and regain its place among the more competitive teams in the Big 12.
Beating Virginia is one thing. Beating a ranked Virginia team after falling behind twice makes the victory even more meaningful.
This is the type of early-season win that can change the atmosphere around a football program.
Players begin to believe in what they’re building. Confidence grows. Practices become more competitive, and the excitement surrounding the team increases.
But the most important thing is what happens next. West Virginia cannot afford to become satisfied with one big victory.
The Mountaineers will host Oklahoma State on September 26 in their Big 12 opener. That will be another opportunity to show whether the progress they’ve made through the first three games can carry over into conference play.
The Virginia victory gives WVU momentum.
Now the challenge is maintaining it.
FINAL THOUGHTS: THIS FELT LIKE OLD-SCHOOL WEST VIRGINIA FOOTBALL
As a former Mountaineer, I love seeing West Virginia play this style of football.
A dynamic quarterback who can beat you with his arm and his legs. A productive running game. An offense that keeps defenses guessing. A team that doesn’t panic when adversity hits.
That’s the West Virginia football I remember.
Watching Michael Hawkins Jr. against Virginia brought back some of those memories of Pat White and the excitement he created every time he touched the football.
Again, Hawkins has a long way to go before anybody should put him in the same conversation as one of the greatest players in WVU history.
But he doesn’t have to be Pat White. He just has to keep being Michael Hawkins Jr.
And if he continues developing while the Mountaineers build on this early-season success, West Virginia fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about what they’re seeing.
The Mountaineers are 3-0, they just knocked off a ranked opponent, and they have a quarterback who can make something happen every time he touches the football.
It’s still early, and there is plenty of football left to play. But one thing is certain: West Virginia just gave its fans a reason to believe.
Let’s Go Mountaineers!