**MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —** When West Virginia and Pitt clash at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the 108th edition of the Backyard Brawl, much of the Mountaineers’ ability to play with the Panthers will hinge on the offense fixing issues that surfaced throughout the final three quarters of last week’s 17-10 loss at Ohio.
On the flip side, Pitt’s offense has had no such struggles through two games, with the Panthers piling up points against inferior competition in Duquesne and Central Michigan. Pitt enters with the nation’s No. 8 scoring offense at 53 points on average.
Panthers’ quarterback Eli Holstein and tailback Desmond Reid are returning starters with a proven track record from last season that have the attention of West Virginia’s defense.
The Mountaineers opposed what they considered a talented dual-threat signal-caller last week in the Bobcats’ Parker Navarro, but it’s safe to reason Reid will be the top running back faced to this point and among the more talented tailbacks the defense sees this season.
“The tailback is unbelievable,” WVU defensive coordinator Zac Alley said. “Maybe the best tailback in the country.”
Reid rushed 14 times for 59 yards and caught four passes for 50 yards and two touchdowns in Pitt’s 38-34 win over West Virginia last season — his first with the Panthers after transferring from Western Carolina.
While Reid starred for the Catamounts at the FCS level, at 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, there were questions as to how his skill set would translate to a higher level.
West Virginia head coach Rich Rodriguez was at Jacksonville State then and recalls being a believer in Reid as he sought his next opportunity beyond WCU.
“I loved him coming out of Western Carolina and we tried to recruit him,” Rodriguez said. “I knew then, and said this guy’s an explosive player. He catches the ball. He does everything. He’s a great return guy. I knew at the time he was a really good player. He’s continued to get even better the last couple years.”
Reid finished his first season at Pitt with 962 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground, while tying for the team lead with 52 receptions that amounted to 579 yards and four additional TDs.
Early into his senior season, Reid has 112 rushing yards on 18 carries with a touchdown and six catches for 71 yards. He’s also returned five punts for 105 yards with an 88-yard return against the Dukes marking Pitt’s first touchdown this season.
“He’s explosive, fast and you can’t tackle him,” Alley said. “They get him in space and use him a bunch of different ways. He’s going to challenge you every snap to know where he’s at and try to corral him. They find a bunch of different ways to get the ball to him.”
Reid’s usage will make it imperative on Mountaineer defenders to consistently be aware of him.
West Virginia is 63rd nationally in rush defense to this point having allowed 235 yards on the ground.
OU amassed 182 yards on the ground, 87 of which Navarro accounted for. Bobcats’ tailback Sieh Bangura finished with 20 carries for 66 yards and a touchdown, but had no run longer than 9 yards.
The Mountaineers have yet to allow a 20-yard run this season, but they’re in for a tough challenge to extend that another week having to contend with Reid’s explosiveness.
“There’s not a single play where I want him to gain anything, but you try and limit the explosive plays with whatever you’re doing to try and attack him,” Alley said. “For me, it’s more of how does he fit within the scheme for them, and how do we try and prevent him from making those type of runs.”