MORGANTOWN — It’s a football axiom that the defense is usually ahead of the offense early in the season.

For years, West Virginia has proved that saying to be false.

But Saturday, the tale of the tape — which the Mountaineer coaching staff was looking at less than a half hour after it ended — showed WVU getting back to basics in an officiated scrimmage at Milan Puskar Stadium.

In other words, defense ruled the day. And the WVU offense.

Still, those concerned about the WVU offense in the post-Pat White era had a couple of bright spots to wash away what was a basic washout by the offense.

And that was the play of true freshmen Eugene Smith, Tavon Austin and Shawne Alston.

West Virginia’s offense — with senior quarterback Jarrett Brown directing the first team and Smith the second team — never could sustain a drive that started in its own territory.

Brown finally connected with Alric Arnett on a 34-yard touchdown pass on a drive that started at the offense’s 25-yard line. The starting position and the length of the touchdown throw tells the tale of the scrimmage. The first two plays of that drive resulted in a sack of Brown that lost four yards and a motion penalty.

Coach Bill Stewart was happy with one aspect of his team, which completed its first week of preseason camp with Saturday’s scrimmage and a team barbecue later Saturday evening.

“I finally saw someone dominate,” Stewart said. “I saw our defense get after the offense. The blue shirts (defense) flat got after the offensive guys. I thought the blue shirts played Mountaineer football for about three quarters. And that’s OK in camp.

“In the fourth quarter the offense saw an opening and whacked ’em real good and could not be stopped down inside the gold zone (as) we call it.”

True, WVU did score several times when the ball was placed at the eight-yard line.

Austin scored on a sweep and Alston on a misdirection play, after Brown connected with Wes Lyons, who made a nice diving grab in the middle of the end zone. Coley White also had a sneak for a score during the goal-line work.

But that wasn’t enough to satisfy Stewart.

“I did not see great enthusiasm or great leadership on the offensive side of the ball today,” he said. “And I’m very disappointed in that. Sometimes, though, when those blue shirts are whacking you and attacking you like our guys came after them, that has a lot to do with that.”

“I think we have a chance to be a great defense,” veteran nose tackle Chris Neild said. “We think we can be the best in the nation.”

As for the offense, on longer drives, Brown was 7-of-10 for 74 yards, including the strike to Arnett. He also connected for the TD with Lyons from eight yards out. He was also intercepted by Kent Richardson.

“I guess you’d have to say they dominated us,” Lyons said. “But we’re going to be OK. Jarrett’s a good quarterback. We’ll get our shot.”

Smith wowed both teams with a nice 41-yard hookup with tight end Will Johnson early in the scrimmage.

He showed pinpoint precision on the pass, which ended up being the longest play of the scrimmage. Smith was 8-of-14 for 82 yards on drives starting in enemy territory.

“I saw a kid throw some pretty nice balls,” Stewart said. “I saw an inexperienced guy with inexperienced centers who couldn’t get center-quarterback exchange and that displeases a head coach very, very much.”

The newly constructed offensive line struggled in spots.

“Oh, I’ll keep ’em,” Stewart said. “There’s no waiver wire. I think they’ll be OK. We have three more weeks to get tougher. They did a good job in this gold zone. I thought they came off ball and pass-blocked well.”

Austin also flashed his speed and contributed in both the pass and run game while working with the twos. He’ll likely start the season as a backup to Jock Sanders and Noel Devine (who had 7 carries for 31 yards).

The Mountaineers struggled in goal-line situations, a trouble spot last year. Four attempts from the three rendered one touchdown, a run by tailback Mike Poitier.

“We’re going to address that,” said Stewart, who did not use a jumbo package installed for such situations. “We’ll work on that Monday.”

WVU will close fall camp next Saturday with another scrimmage. After that, school begins and the Mountaineers will break down into a normal game-week routine.

WVU opens the season hosting Liberty Sept. 5.

— E-mail: demorrison@

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