INSIDE SLANT

  There are times in rivalry games, when coaches having two weeks to prepare, dig deep down into their bag of tricks to come up with something special, a surprise play to spring on their opponent.

  West Virginia, a home underdog against No. 8/9 Pittsburgh in the 102nd renewal of the Backyard Brawl, certainly could be in a situation where a trick play or two might just be in order, but don’t be looking for Coach Bill Stewart to leaning in that direction.

  “I learned a long time ago that in big game, fundamentals are the key,” Stewart said. “I saw a quote from Dave (Pittsburgh coach Wannstedt), who said pretty much the same thing. We’re both old-school coaches.

   “Trick plays won’t win this football game. You just tie the laces up a little tighter and strap on the pads.”

   That really is what The Backyard Brawl, one of the nation’s most underrated rivalries, usually comes down to. Pitt won the last two meetings, including the stunning upset in 2007 when it was a four-touchdown underdog, by playing sound, fundamental football, running the ball first and relying on a defense that refused to miss tackles.

   It’s pretty much the approach West Virginia will take, running Noel Devine, who has been getting healthier each day, according to Stewart, after being banged up for a couple of weeks with ankle, hamstring and hip injuries.

   Getting Devine going is crucial for the Mountaineers, who have gotten only 28 yards from Devine on 19 carries in two years against Pitt.

   The Mountaineers possibly could lean toward using bigger back Ryan Clarke, who surprised Cincinnati with 60 yards on five carries, in addition to Devine and also in running quarterback Jarrett Brown, also a bigger weapon, more often than normal.

   Brown is a strong runner who Wannstedt likened to Patrick White in his ability to both run and throw.

NOTES, QUOTES

   —SB Jock Sanders needs to average the 6.2 catches per game he now averages through the season’s final three games to break the school’s reception record of 77 catches set by David Sanders and tied by Shawn Foreman.

   —The Mountaineers are 60-2 since 2000 when scoring 30 or more points but have gone five games without scoring 30 and have lost two of them.

   —WVU is 6-0 at home this season with all three of its losses coming on the road. WVU lost at home only once last year, in overtime to Cincinnati, and has not lost two home games in a season since 2003.

   SERIES HISTORY: Pitt leads, 61-37-3 (Last meeting, 2008, 19-15, Pittsburgh).

   SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: WVU’s offense has been stagnant in recent weeks, with RB Noel Devine banged up and not exploding through holes for big gains the way he has in the past. Devine has gained only 42, 56 and 88 yards in the past three games, far below his average. He has also been stuffed the last two years by Pitt, gaining only 28 rushing yards on 19 carries combined. Chances are, WVU is going to have win the game through the air, which is a problem because the Mountaineers have failed to reach 200 passing yards in four of the last five games, averaging just over 160 yards passing per game during that span.

   SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: WVU finally got the 11 players it thought it would have on the field to play defense this year on the field last week at Cincinnati and almost pulled off the upset. WVU has held Pitt to just 32 points combined over the last two years but has lost both games, with the Panthers being able to control the football on the ground in the fourth quarter both times. WVU’s corners will be challenged deep by Pitt’s 6-5 receiver Jonathan Baldwin, as the Panthers look for big plays in the passing game. WVU’s 6-5 safety Robert Sands may play a big role in the game, leading the team with four interceptions.

   QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s that time of year when you find out how tough you are as a football team. The rivalry is just icing on the cake.”—WVU Coach Bill Stewart as the Backyard Brawl against Pitt approached.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

   THIS WEEK’S GAME: Pittsburgh at West Virginia, Nov. 27—The 102nd Backyard Brawl is more a battle of pride than anything else, even though Pitt does stand No. 9 in the nation. Win or lose, however, Pitt can win the Big East by beating Cincinnati next week and will not win the conference if it loses to the Bearcats. The Panthers have won the last two games in the series, each a hard-fought, low-scoring affair, much like this game figures to be. WVU is still looking for revenge from two years ago when Pitt came to Morgantown as a four-touchdown underdog and beat No. 1 WVU, 13-9, to keep the Mountaineers out of the national championship game.

   KEYS TO THE GAME: West Virginia’s ability to control Pitt’s running game and controlled passing game on first and second down will decide this game. If the Mountaineers can try to make QB Bill Stull win the game by making third-and-long plays, West Virginia should be able to keep RBs Dion Lewis and Ray Graham from controlling the action. However, Pitt’s offensive line is big and tough against WVU’s smaller three-man front and has been able to control play the last couple of years.

   PLAYERS TO WATCH:

   QB Jarrett Brown—He has not been lighting the board up since suffering a minor concussion, but he’s going to have to be at his best against Pitt. Perhaps Brown’s greatest skill has been his escapability, and that is crucial against a Pitt team that presents a strong pass rush out of its talented front four. If Brown can keep his sacks to two or fewer, he might be able to make some big plays while on the move.

   OLT Don Barclay—Barclay will find himself paired up with Pitt’s DE Greg Romeus, who has registered 7.5 sacks and 10 tackles for losses this year. Romeus ranks 24th in the nation in sacks, and Barclay will have to neutralize him to protect QB Jarrett Brown’s blind side if WVU is to pass effectively.

   RB Noel Devine—The Mountaineers are hoping that a week off will help his hamstring, hip and ankle heal up so that he can be at full speed against a team that has put the shackles on him over the past two years, allowing him to gain only 28 yards on 19 carries in two games.

Roster Report:  

   —WVU RB Noel Devine’s ankle is improving, coach Bill Stewart said, but he really gave no indication of whether he will be anyway near full speed for Pitt.

   —WVU has played only five true freshmen this season: SB Tavon Austin, QB Geno Smith, RB Shawne Alston and DBs Terence Galvin and Pat Miller.

   —A total of 17 fifth-year seniors will be playing their final home game against Pitt: WR Alric Arnett, WR Payton Brooks, QB Jarrett Brown, OL Selvish Capers, LB Zac Cooper, WR Jack Crow, LB Zach Flynt, LB Ovid Goulbourne, P Scott Kozlowski, TD Scott Loving, RB Mike Poiter, DB Kent Richardson, DB Nate Sowers, OL Jon Walko, DL Citrine Warren, LB Reed Williams and DB Anthony Wood.