Jahiem White, Garrett Greene run wild in West Virginia’s romp over Cincinnati

Associated Press
Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 6:31 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 6:31 p.m.

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West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene passes during the first half against Cincinnati on Saturday.

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West Virginia’s Jaheim White scores a receiving touchdown during the first half against Cincinnati on Saturday.

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West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene scores a touchdown on a quarterback keeper during the first half against Cincinnati on Saturday.

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Cincinnati’s Evan Prater is tackled by West Virginia’s Ben Cutter (15) during the first half Saturday.

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Former West Virginia coach Don Nehlen (second from right) and his wife Jane Nehlen look on as Don Nehlen is honored during the first half against Cincinnati on Saturday.

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Former West Virginia coach Don Nehlen is honored during Saturday;s game against Cincinnati in Morgantown, W.Va.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — West Virginia freshman Jahiem White rushed for a season-high 204 yards, Garrett Greene ran for a career-high 154 and the pair combined for five touchdowns in a 42-21 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday.

West Virginia (7-4, 5-3 Big 12) turned a matchup of two of the league’s top rushing teams into a one-sided affair early and now has the most wins in a season under fifth-year coach Neal Brown.

On a day when retired Hall of Fame coach Don Nehlen was honored at the stadium he opened in 1980, the Mountaineers bounced back from a lopsided loss to No. 14 Oklahoma by piling up 424 yards on the ground, the highest under Brown.

By halftime, Greene had already surpassed his previous high of 119 yards rushing set last year. He had 117 yards rushing against Oklahoma State last month. White had 168 yards rushing after halftime.

Cincinnati (3-8, 1-7) has lost seven of eight and will finish in last place either alone or tied with others in its first season in the Big 12.

The Bearcats, who had surpassed 200 rushing yards in their four previous games, got off to a rough start, punting on their first four possessions. By then, West Virginia was already up 21-0, and Cincinnati was forced to rely on the pass in trying to mount a comeback.

Greene had scoring runs of 3, 26 and 18 yards. He threw a second-quarter sideline pass that White turned into a 75-yard score. White also had a 4-yard TD run and CJ Donaldson scored his 11th touchdown of the season, a 13-yard run in the second quarter.

Nehlen’s name was added next to Major Harris and five others whose numbers have been retired and displayed along Mountaineer Field’s north end zone. The ceremony occurred two weeks after West Virginia retired the No. 66 of NFL Hall of Famer Chuck Howley.

Nehlen’s first college coaching job was as an assistant at Cincinnati in 1963. His first game at West Virginia in 1980 was against Cincinnati. He retired in 2000 with 202 career wins.

West Virginia: The Mountaineers, who allowed 644 yards to Oklahoma a week ago, limited the Bearcats to 139 yards in the first half and 344 overall.

West Virginia plays at Baylor next Saturday.