Three down. Ten to go. Was 31-21 especially pretty or convincing? Probably not. Did it come around at a good time? Well, I suppose you never want to watch your team that was supposed to have made great strides and harken back to the days of a shaky offense and suspect defense — you know, all the way back to 2011.

I don’t think it was entirely unexpected, though, and if you listened to Dana Holgorsen and his coaches last week, you got a sneak preview for the game. Maryland, no matter the record and the opposition, had talent and was capable of doing something good. The tight end was impressive. The defensive front could affect the game. And that No. 1 was a big-time player. It was true. It wasn’t enough, but it was true.

More truth be told, WVU didn’t help itself much. Alston’s injury mattered. The offensive line didn’t have a good day. Stedman Bailey wasn’t his reliable self. Maryland’s blitz was overwhelming. The defense was … I don’t know. I’m think split on this. There were some pretty bad moments that could, and definitely should, have been prevented, but Maryland couldn’t run the ball. The defense scored once and forced another critical turnover. You could even look at the two Stephon Diggs touchdowns and circle one major problem that should have not happened and should have stopped the play. But it happened. And it’s going to happen.

Things get real starting now and every remaining team, save Kansas, I guess, is better than Maryland — but I think Maryland might be OK in the ACC. It all makes me wonder if Saturday wasn’t an attention-grabber in the locker room. Everyone had to pass a mirror at some point and just about everybody had to take a look. WVU hasn’t had that inspiration in quite some time.

“Everything we were doing out there seemed hard,” second-year West Virginia Coach Dana Holgorsen said. “Maybe we’ve just been spoiled the last three games having the success we’ve had.”

See it’s a West coast thing where I’m from. And if you want some, get some, bad enough, text some. My edits are in [brackets].

11:46 am
Bad. Blood. Hold me.

12:02 pm
UM has a player run in carrying the US flag. I feel bad booing. Pretty sneaky, sis.

12:03
ITS WE MUST IGNITE THIS COUCH VERSUS WE MUST PROTECT THIS HOUSE…LETS BURN THIS [ESTABLISHMENT] TO THE GROUND, POOKIE!

12:05
Is ed pastilong drunk?

12:07
“Why is WVU in grey?” – My 5 year old son. He’s not a fan.

12:07
Has to be worst kicking game of all top 10 teams

12:10
Still no Fox play clock.

12:12
An incomplete pass??? WELL THERE GOES GENO’S HEISMAN!

12:12
Badly overthrown. Geno jumpyy?

12:20
Gray unis – meh. Actual game clock on FX – yeah!

12:22
As for as linebackers wearing #47 go…Rigg’s a bit faster than Reed Williams.

12:22
Dar. Win. Cook. Doug. Riggs. [Y’all].

12:23
Well, Rangoon, that’s one way to keep Geno off the field.

12:23
Our high scoring defense strikes again. Wait, what?!

12:23
Too bad Rigg couldn’t have tackled that da*n turtle after the TD!

12:24
Spike Hertz’s coke. — A

12:34
TAVON COMIN’ Y’ALL

12:36
31 second drive. Rangoon has WVU right where he wants them now.

12:38
These Maryland WHITE OPS uniforms don’t translate from the blog posts to the field so well. Translation; they look boring.

12:39
OMG playclock on Fox!

12:43
Our defense against the play action is troubling.

12:45
Defense rooting for the ball to keep blowing off the tee. Need … Rest ….

12:46
Delay of game intentional to rest the D.

12:47
#teamgoforit!

12:50
Here comes the D train, zules guy cut the fro. Mustache still in tact

12:50
I just realized I was looking at a standard, classic defense…and an I-Formation offense. THE [HECK] IS THIS MADNESS!!

12:53
BAH!! THE TIGHT END!!! SYRACUSE FLAHBACK!!!

12:53
I hate tight ends.

12:56
Does our defense know its not an NCAA rule that you HAVE to blitz on 3rd down? Screens are killing us. Ralph Friedgen 2002 in the box?

12:57
So if we can’t cover the ACC… The Big 12 is going to be scary

12:57
I just asked Siri; “WHAT IS THIS [STUFF]!?” She said; “I believe this is called “SOME [(ANYTHING)]!”

1:01
Jenkins got abused there. Serious liability.

1:02
Dana’s bout to bust out the case of Red Bull and carton of Marlboros…[sweet]

1:03
Paging Casteel….

1:04
Big pep talk by Tavon before this KO return.

1:08
I can’t imagine why Ryan Clarke isn’t a threat to run the ball…

1:10
Incompletions versus touchdowns will be less of a talking point now.

1:11
Is that GARRISON!!??

1:14
Blood in the water. They are getting to Geno.

1:18
Why does this high powered offense get conservative inside the 20?? Frustrating.

1:23
FX squeezing every [gulldurn] nickel outta this here broadcast.

1:33
Doubt level: MODERATE

1:34
Geno is talking some stuff (anything) to some Terps. I highly support this behavior.

1:35
There are 58 sec left and we have two time outs …. They aren’t like cell phone minutes! Ask Valenti.

1:36
I SAID TAVON COMIN’ [MY FRIENDS]

1:36
Doubt level: UNLIKELY

1:37
7 nation army comes on and my section screams “no…. We’re gonna loooooose!”

1:37
So. There are two girls under one plastic poncho screaming “no” at Seven Nation Army.

1:38
I’m asking you about kickoffs.

1:39
That’s not too cool by Garvin. Hope he didn’t hear the whistle.

1:39
If that was a false start, Edsall has every right to be pissed.

1:45
Hills for Heisman if he could play us each week.

1:49
Frickin OL needs to get its act together.

1:55
If you have binoculars, guy by the Sec 99/98 entrance in liederhosen and a fedora. Ich bin ein Mountaineerer.

1:58
So it’s halftime. Good a time as any to salute Space Captain Tavon.

2:00
Also at halftime, let us pause to remember that screen passes to tight ends are the devil.

2:06
Hertzel tweeted that Hills had his bell rung “literally.” What does that mean?

2:15
Will the real Dana Holgorsen please stand up?

2:17
Why is Geno overthrowing the ball?

2:19
WTF? Geno don’t get sacked.

2:20
Sign I’m officially spoiled as Mountaineer fan; WVU’s up 10 in the 3rd quarter and I’m generally displeased.

2:28
Was in line for the men’s room for 20 minutes. Once inside, guy said most profound thing: Don’t need bigger restrooms, just bigger doors. Mind blown.

2:28
Guy behind me just informed me we are being out coached

2:29
David Ash just called his doctor because this game gave him an erection for the past 2 1/2 hours

2:30
WVU still can’t cover Tight Ends!

2:40
Is it me or has Holgo been headset free all game?

2:43
Major Harris and I just made eye contact. It was magical

2:45
I’m suddenly shedding tears for Casteel.

2:46
Miller couldn’t tackle my 88 year old grandmother in a phone booth

2:48
Pawwwwwl, we needed a flag there.

2:50
Give’em a sadul, re-uf!

2:53
Tavon gutted it out on that drive.

2:56
I have dirty thoughts about Dana. There I said it. He would prob growl ” aggggh, you know how it is.” Put that in your TFGD.

2:57
Why doesn’t Dana wear a headset?

2:59
And pat miller can’t cover

3:01
There are no more words to text.

3:01
Jeff Casteel, why have you forsaken us? Folks, if you think this is a top 10 team, you are living in fantasy land!

3:03
Defense is about as effective as stadium cell service…

3:03
These guys put up 7 on W&M?

3:05
Tavon takes career receiving record on a loss.

3:07
Is this a classic wvu performance or what?

3:09
I’m scurred Texas ( or Baylor) gonna be our daddy.

3:13
“Gonna review the down and distance” I [certainly] thought we left the Big East

3:16
Um, theyjust played OGS.

3:16
Better than CEJ by leaps and bounds.

3:16
BALLGAME, MAGGLE!

3:18
Bat that [pigskin] down, yo. 4th and 21? No INT. That was better than a punt!

3:21
People say that football players aren’t cerebral. Hard to argue when all Wes Tonkery has to do is knock the football down on 4th down. Instead, he inter

3:21
cepts, costs his team 40 yards, then jumps up and celebrates like a fool.

3:24
The refs who did my sons flag football game last Sunday were better than this crew. And those guys royally SUCKED

3:27
Phew! A win is a win. I guess.