Snow Sparks Mountaineer Momentum Swing - WVU Football, WVU Basketball, News - Mountaineer Sports

There was a simple message in the West Virginia locker room at halftime of the team's game against Connecticut.

"When we were in the locker room, Coach Holgorsen said it's a one turnover game. We're one turnover away from making this game, like, blowout this game," Pat Miller said after the game.

At first it didn't look like the Mountaineers defense had taken that message to heart as it let the Huskies drive all the way down to the 13-yard-line. On first down, Miller changed all that, though he didn't even know it at the time.

"I didn't even know he fumbled until I seen Snow recover the fumble and run up field," says Miller. "I just tried to get out and get a block."

The junior cornerback caused quarterback Johnny McEntee to cough up the ball and Jewone Snow did the rest.

In just his second start as a Mountaineer, Snow found himself in the right place at the right time, wide-eyed as he watched the ball sail into the air for the taking. He snatched it up and put on his track shoes down the sideline, staring straight ahead at the goal line as it grew nearer and nearer.

"I just was shocked because I got that last block and I was like, man, I've got a chance to score this," says Snow. "By the time I got to the other side of the field I saw someone coming and I was like, man, I'm not going to make it."

At some point, you may have thought you were watching a man running the wrong way on one of those airport people movers. He didn't seem to be making any progress in his trek to the end zone. Eventually he was caught by Ryan Griffin, a tight end who wears No. 94.

It was an 83-yard return. The training staff may very well have been waiting with an oxygen tank.

"I told him to pitch the ball back to me the next time it happens," senior linebacker Najee Goode joked after the game. "He's not used to running it."

Speed and finesse points aside, Miller and Snow's play was the turning point for the Mountaineers. It was the turnover Holgorsen asked for, and it put the momentum on WVU's side to stay.

"That was a huge spark and we capitalized on it," says Holgorsen.

"Coming down and giving the ball to our offense with good field position was even more momentum and we knew we had to go out there and do it again," Says Goode.

It was quite a play by a redshirt freshman who is doing his best to take advantage of his new role in the starting lineup. Miller began the momentum change, and Snow ensured that he put the offense in the best possible position to keep it with the Mountaineers.

UConn's offense never scored a single touchdown and only mustered 97 yards of total offense in the second half. WVU's put up 331 and added 33 points after Snow's return.

"That builds up a lot of confidence for Jewone because he hasn't been starting that much – these are his first two games, and he got really comfortable in there playing mike and that was really good to see," says Goode.

"It does build your confidence, but I don't want to get too high," says Snow. "I've still got to correct some mistakes and get better each week."

It had to have been quite a different experience for Snow to stand on the sideline as the game wound down, cheering on his backup linebackers in garbage time. He's usually in that role, taking snaps that don't have any real impact on the game. Now he's making plays with the starters.

Snow will continue to improve and as he does, he can expect to make more big plays for the Mountaineers. On Saturday, though, they absolutely needed him and he did not disappoint.

Maybe next time he'll step on the gas and take it all the way.