Wilson always a threat

Ask Syracuse head football coach Paul Pasqualoni and it sounds like he’s talking about Jim Brown.

“He is explosive,” Pasqualoni said. “He has speed. He will run by you. He can run through tackles. He is a terrific back.”

No, West Virginia (6-4, 4-1) back Quincy Wilson isn’t Brown, but on some days, he sure looks like it.

Take last week for example. Wilson ran all over the Panthers in a 52-31 win, gaining 208 yards on 34 carries for four touchdowns in a 52-31 win Saturday. Wilson was nearly as good in a 28-7 win against Virginia Tech, Oct. 22, gaining 178 yards on 33 carries.

It’s been an up and down season for the Mountaineer back, who has seen days like Pitt, when it seems like no one can stop him, and then days like Cincinnati, Sept. 13, where Wilson mustered just 39 yards on 18 rushes. He didn’t fair much better a week later against Maryland, gaining just 71 yards on 20 carries.

“This year, we were inexperienced on the offensive line,” Mountaineer coach Rich Rodriguez said, “but those guys have gradually gotten better and now we’re running the football well.”

With the improvement off an offensive line that features three seniors and two juniors, Wilson has been virtually unstoppable, and has collected 1226 yards this season.

Wilson is perhaps best known for his run against Miami Oct. 2, when Wilson turned a screen pass on a third-and-13 into a touchdown. Wilson eluded Vince Wilfork behind the line of scrimmage, broke a tackle, and then flat out ran over safety Brandon Meriweather at the 10 yard line, running in for the score to give the Mountaineers a 20-19 lead with under two minutes remaining.

Miami later rallied for a 22-19 win, but Wilson's play has been on highlights across the country.

"I see that reply all the time," Pasqualoni said.

This is the task the Orangemen (5-4, 2-3) will face Saturday, when West Virginia comes to the Carrier Dome. The Orangemen have allowed 137 yards rushing a game.

Syracuse will have to limit Wilson, as well as quarterback Rasheed Marshall, who is a threat to run as well. Marshall has gained 227 yards and run for two touchdowns.

“We have to beat the offensive line and get penetration,” lineman Louis Gachelin said. “This week in practice we have to work on drill for sure tackles. We have to make sure he doesn’t break tackles.”