The coach debuts on the sideline for the Golden Knights, who fall 45-20 to No. 10 West Virginia.
By Associated Press
Published September 12, 2004
ORLANDO - Without its record-setting running back, West Virginia relied on its multitalented quarterback.
Rasheed Marshall completed 14 of 18 passes for 225 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a score in No. 10 West Virginia's 45-20 win over Central Florida on Saturday night, spoiling coach George O'Leary's debut on the Golden Knights sideline.
The Mountaineers lost running back Kay-Jay Harris, the former Tampa Bay Tech standout, early to a leg injury. Harris set the school and Big East record with 337 yards rushing in the opener last weekend against East Carolina.
"Rasheed was the difference for us offensively," coach Rich Rodriguez said.
Against East Carolina, Marshall was seldom asked to pass, and he completed 6 of 15 with two interceptions.
"I challenged myself to throw the ball better this week, and I think I accomplished that," said Marshall, who tied his career best for TD passes. "I want to keep this up the rest of the season."
Harris' injury was either cramps or a hamstring, team officials said. In his place, Jason Colson ran for 108 yards and a score.
After a one-week delay, UCF played for O'Leary, out of the college ranks since he resigned from Notre Dame in 2001 for lying on his resume. He missed the opening loss at Wisconsin to attend his mother's funeral.
"I think we improved in many areas," said O'Leary, singling out the offensive line. "We've got to improve in other areas as well, but the kids played the whole game."
UCF is 0-15 against ranked opponents, 0-4 at home.
Alex Haynes led UCF with 137 rushing yards on a career-high 34 carries. Including two receptions for 16 yards, Haynes was in on 36 of 71 plays from scrimmage and had 153 of UCF's 299 total yards.
"He is a really good running back," O'Leary said. "But I am more pleased about the way the offensive line played. If they block like that, he will have good days."
Early in the third quarter, Haynes cut UCF's deficit to 28-17 with a 21-yard scoring run.
But less than a minute later, Marshall found Brandon Myles on a screen and Myles outran the pursuit for a 57-yard touchdown.
UCF countered with Matt Prater's second field goal before Marshall's final TD pass, an 11-yarder to Bryan Wright.
Mountaineers kicker Brad Cooper capped the scoring early in the fourth quarter with a 54-yard field goal that bounced off and over the crossbar.
