Call it Devine intervention: After entering in the second half, freshman Noel Devine provided three long runs to propel No. 4 West Virginia to victory in College Park, Md.
Steve Slaton ran for 137 yards and three touchdowns, Devine amassed 125 yards on his first three carries, and the Mountaineers cruised past Maryland 31-14 on Thursday night.
The 5-foot-8 Devine served as Slaton’s setup man. Early in the third quarter, Devine ran 31 yards to the Maryland 1, putting Slaton in position for the first of his two 1-yard touchdown runs.
Late in the period, Devine rambled 76 yards to the Maryland 1.
Slaton scored on the next play to put the Mountaineers up 28-7.
“I think I ran out of gas. I thought I was going to make it in the end zone,” Devine said. “At least we got the points.”
In the fourth quarter, Devine ran for 18 yards to place West Virginia (3-0) in position for a field goal.
“He continues to run hard and be hungry,” West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said. “He’s done more than we probably expected. He’s still learning his way, but he’s a gifted guy. I’m happy for him.”
Devine finished with 136 yards rushing on five attempts.
“They see my size, I’m so short they may not be able to see me as easily,” Devine said with a grin. “I thank the linemen, I ran through some big holes.”
Slaton’s three TDs – he had a 22-yarder in the first half – gave him 41 for his career, one short of the school record shared by Ira Errett Rodgers and Avon Cobourne.
Slaton likes the idea of having Devine in the backfield, for reasons that have nothing to do with providing him an easy route to the end zone.
“He’s quick, talented and shifty. He’s in one place and then another,” Slaton said. “Other teams have to watch out for him.”
Keon Lattimore ran for 80 yards and a touchdown for Maryland (2-1). The Terrapins yielded a total of 350 yards in their first two games; the Mountaineers finished with 448.
“Obviously I’m disappointed with the loss, but West Virginia is a good football team,” Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. “We kind of got worn down.”
Texas: Senior safety Tyrell Gatewood was suspended indefinitely after his arrest on drug charges, the fifth arrest of a Longhorns player since June.
Freshman defensive back Ben Wells, 18, who was riding with Gatewood when he was pulled over late Wednesday, was given a citation for possession of drug paraphernalia and released.
Gatewood, 22, was charged with two counts of possession of a dangerous drug. Bond was set at $2,500 for each count, but he was released on personal recognizance.
