By R. J. GOODE

For the Sports Department

It was the season opener for the WVU Mountaineers Sept. 5 as they welcomed the Liberty Flames to Mylan Puskar Stadium and the debut of their new starting quarterback, senior Jarret Brown, who led his team to a 33-20 victory.

The scoring got started early when the WVU’s Tyler Bitancurt kicked a 38-yard field goal. The Flames came right back and answered with a field goal of their own from 32 yards out to knot the game at three. But, WVU’s Ryan Clark scored on a two-yard TD run to give Morgantown a 10-3 lead.

Once again the Flames countered with a score of their own with a 20-yard TD pass early in the second period. The Liberty PAT was true to knot the game at 10.

Brown then scored on a 22-yard TD run that put the ‘Eers ahead 17-10 after a solid point after. Bitancurt launched two field goals – from 35 yards and 45 yards, respectively, to end first-half scoring and send the Mountaineers to the break with a 23-10 advantage.

Liberty kicked a 49-yard field goal mid-way through third period, but Bitancurt added a 36-yard field goal with less then a minute to go to double up Liberty, 26-13.

In the fourth period, Brown hit Jock Sanders for big yardage to the Liberty 24. All-American candidate Noel Devine took it to the house for a 33-13 advantage. However, the Flames added a touchdown late in the fourth for the game’s final points.

WVU will host East Carolina University in a payback game this Saturday, Sept. 12, with kick-off set for 3:30 p.m.