Published: October 13, 2008 11:57 am            

Stanchek upset over penalties

MORGANTOWN — Knocking on wood did not help Ryan Stanchek.

West Virginia's All-America senior left tackle was discussing chop blocks last week and noted he hadn't been called for a penalty of any kind all season. He then tapped the table twice and continued on with his conversation.

Stanchek was flagged twice for holding in Saturday's victory against Syracuse.

"I know," he said when told he'd likely jinxed himself, "and I don't want to talk about it."

Stanchek accepted the first call, but thought he was guilty only of pancaking an opponent on the second.

"I saw one hold on the big screen," Coach Bill Stewart said. "But I watched him road-grade a guy on the second one. He took the kid over to their bench and dumped him down. I don't know about that one."

Stewart still hounded Stanchek and challenged him late in the game so that WVU might run out the clock. Stanchek, who actually switched with left guard Greg Isdaner on a number of snaps in the second half, ended up springing Noel Devine to the outside on this 92-yard touchdown run.

"Don't get Ryan Stanchek mad," Devine said.

***

WVU KICKER and punter Pat McAfee became the school's all-time leading scorer with a 33-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. The senior form Plum, Pa., entered the game with 329 career points and tied former running back Steve Slaton with an extra point in the second quarter.

He has 334 career points.

McAfee has made 190-of-192 career extra-point attempts and is tied with former Virginia Tech kicker Carter Warley for the Big East Conference record.

It was McAfee's counterpart who made the biggest mark, though. Syracuse's Patrick Shadle kicked a career-long 53-yard field goal in the second quarter. It was the fourth longest in school history, the longest in history by a WVU opponent and the longest by a foe at Mountaineer Field.

Shadle is from Morgantown and was recruited to Syracuse by WVU safeties coach Steve Dunlap when he was an assistant on the Orange staff. Shadle graduated from Morgantown High as the state's all-time leader in kicking points.

He's 9-for-10 on field-goal attempts this season and has the Orange's best career kicking percentage.

***

PAT RANDOLPH'S 96-yard touchdown run at home against Northern Illinois in 1986 is the only play in school and stadium history longer than Devine's 92-yard touchdown. Devine had a career-high 188 yards on 18 carries. It's his third 100-yard game this season and the sixth of his career.

***

DARWIN COOK, a receiver-defensive end for Shaw High in East Cleveland, Ohio, committed to WVU last week after committing to Cincinnati over the summer.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound Cook has 265 yards and two touchdowns rushing and 411 yards and four touchdowns receiving, but is a greater defensive player. He is the 15th commitment to the 2009 WVU recruiting class.

Cook has 67 tackles and 14.5 sacks and projects as a safety at WVU.

"West Virginia plays a lot of defensive backs and blitzes a lot in its defensive schemes, so the opportunity to play there as a freshman is good," Shaw told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Plus, there's also a possibility I'll play some slot back, too."

Cook was recruited by offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen, but also by WVU basketball point guard and fellow Shaw graduate Will Thomas.

        

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