When you experience 3 straight losses like we have it can be really hard to look back at any of those games and find positives or silver linings. Would it surprise you if I told you that in each of those 3 losses we were tied or had the lead late in the first half? It’s true. What’s also true is that in all 3 losses that is where things started to fall apart for the team. I went back and took a look at the part of the game that is known as the “Middle Eight” in each of our Power 4 games. The Middle Eight refers
to the last 4 minutes of the first half and the first 4 minutes of the 2nd half. This crucial time period has the potential to really throw momentum in one teams favor based on how it plays out. If one team gets a late score in the first half, and then gets the ball to start the second half they have the opportunity to put up 14 points without the opponent touching the ball.
The table below tells the story of how the Middle Eight has gone for WVU. It shows what the score was when we entered the middle eight, what it was when we exited, and what the point differential was for that time period.
What jumps out to me is that in our last 2 losses we are -28 in score differential in that middle eight. Here is a closer look at how those middle eight possessions played out.
Iowa State- Score entering 14-14
- WVU gets the ball with 3:51 left in the 2nd at the WVU 20
- Goes 3 and out and punt
- Iowa State 9 plays for 69 yards and a touchdown
- WVU gets the ball back with :05 left and ends the half
- WVU gets the ball to start the 3rd quarter
- Goes 3 and out and punt
- Iowa State Goes 4 plays 74 yards and a touchdown
- WVU 14 Iowa State 28
Arizona- Score entering 17 – 17
- Arizona gets the ball with 4:05 left in the 2nd quarter
- Goes 4 plays 58 yards and touchdown
- WVU gets the ball with 2:52 left in the 2nd
- Goes 7 plays 72 yards and fumbles
- Arizona ends the half
- Arizona gets the ball to start the 3rd quarter
- Goes 3 plays 75 yards and a touchdown
- WVU gets the ball
- Goes 10 plays 40 yards and turnover on downs
- WVU 17 Arizona 31
That was painful to type. If we are going to beat Cincinnati this has to change. We need to get deep in the 2nd half with a feeling that we are in control instead feeling like the wheels are falling off. That will keep the crowd in it and the pressure on Cincinnati to keep performing. I’ll be keeping an eye on this crucial part of the game on Saturday. If we get back into positive territory in the Middle Eight, I like our chances.
Do put as much value on this part of the game as I do? Let me know what your keys to the game are in the comments.
