The final box suggests WVU’s 9-for-17 performance on third down Saturday was pretty strong and 10 percentage points above last year’s finale 42.2 percent figure.

For a team that’s trying to own timne of possession every game and, at least for the time being, preserve and follow the defense, that’s an important number. And a deceiving one.

WVU followed empty third downs by scoring a touchdown and kicking a field goal on fourth down. No losses there. And three more empty third downs came at the end of the game with the reserve offense in the game.

So, in truth, the real offense was 9-for-14 … with a fourth-down touchdown and field goal. That’s a pretty good day for third down.

Yet that’s misleading, too. WVU was good on third down because of the plan on first and second down. Offensive coordinator Jeff Mullen said every play is designed to get at least four yards. The Mountaineers averaged five yards on every first-down play and needed 4.1 yards for every third down.

The fate of third down at WVU is greatly affected by what happens before.

“The key for any offense, in my opinion, is to stay on schedule – second-and-6 or less, third-and-3 or less,” Mullen said. “If you do that better than 50 percent of the game, that means you’re really in a good rhythm and probably moving the ball and doing all the things you want do to. If you’re constantly in second-and-long and third-and long, you’re probably going to have a lot of three-and-outs.”

WVU’s starters had just two three-and-outs – on consecutive possessions in the first quarter. The Mountaineers took over at their 14- and 19-yard line and gained 1 yard and 5 yards, respectively.

On the first series, Geno Smith lost 6 yards on a first-down quarterback run. On the second, Tavon Austin gained 6 on a first-down run, but Noel Devine lost 2 on second down.

Mostly, though, the Mountaineers succeeded on first down. They ran and passed equally on 24 first down plays with the first team. Smith completed 8-of-12 passes for 51 yards, but also threw an interception. The 12 runs were good for 76 yards.