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Mountaineers Look For First Win After Close Call Against Alabama

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Following a closer than predicted loss to No. 2 Alabama, West Virginia's home opener is Saturday against Towson at 7:30 p.m.

The Mountaineers were just down a score to 'Bama in the fourth quarter last week. Quarterback Clint Trickett threw for 365 yards. Safety Karl Joseph had 18 tackles. Many positives for Dana Holgorsen to build on.

"The effort that our guys played with was exactly what we wanted. I told them Sunday that they set the standard of how they are going to play all year. If they can keep up the effort, energy and that excitement, then we will have a good year," he said.

Holgorsen was stern in saying they will not take a FCS school for granted in hosting Towson University. The Tigers made a run to the title game last year before falling to North Dakota State.

"They beat UConn," Holgorsen said. "Then, they dropped a couple close games in the middle of the season, but then they made a pretty good run towards the playoffs. They won some huge games in the playoffs in tough places to play."

Towson did lose a lot from last year, tailback Terrance West is gone after rushing for 2,509 yards and 41 touchdowns. Along with West, Towson has a brand new offense line.

As Holgorsen joked, "that's good for us."

N.D. State already beat Big 12 member Iowa State last night, so Holgorsen is acutely aware of the challenge on Saturday.

"James Madison beat Virginia Tech," Holgorsen said. "Delaware knows Navy beat them. Villanova beat Temple and should have beat Syracuse. That was a double overtime game. The list goes on and on. William and Mary almost beat Maryland last year. There are lots of examples, and I've gotten them written down. I'll make sure our team is aware of it."

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