The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Today's Sports Front

December 4, 2012

Bailey, Austin named All-Americans

By Cam Huffman Sports Editor

Awards continue to roll in for West Virginia’s offensive stars, who have rewritten the Mountaineer record books.

On Monday, Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey both landed on the CBSSports.com All-America first team.

Bailey, a junior, was a first-team wide receiver, while Austin, a senior, was the all-purpose athlete. He also made the second team as a wide receiver.

Bailey, who will soon make a decision on whether to return for his senior year or enter the NFL draft, has 106 catches for 1,501 yards and 23 touchdowns this season. The Biletnikoff Award finalist has averaged 14.2 yards per catch.

Austin, a senior, is second in the nation in all-purpose yardage, excelling as a wide receiver, running back, kick returner and punt returner. He has 110 catches for 1,259 yards and 12 touchdowns from his slot receiver spot. He’s also carried the ball 61 times for 598 yards and three touchdowns, averaging nearly 10 yards per tote.

As a returner, he has 15 punt returns for 165 yards and a 76-yard touchdown and 26 kick returns for 738 yards and a 100-yard score.

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Quarterback Geno Smith didn’t see his name on that list, but he was named the Big 12’s Offensive Co-Player of the Week, along with Baylor’s Lache Seastrunk.

Smith completed 23 of 24 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns in the Mountaineers’ 51-10 win over Kansas Saturday. He set a WVU and Big 12 record with 21 consecutive pass completions. He also tied the NCAA record for completion percentage (with a minimum of 20 attempts), equaling Tee Martin’s record of 95.8 percent.

This week’s honor marked the third time this season Smith won the award.

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The Chesapeake Energy Capital Classic will begin tonight when the women’s basketball teams from West Virginia and Marshall do battle at 7 p.m. at the Charleston Civic Center.

WVU leads the all-time series 35-16 and has won the last seven meetings.

The Mountaineers are 4-2 and coming off a 54-47 win at Virginia.Taylor Palmer leads the team in scoring with 11 points per game.

Marshall is 4-3 and coming off a 59-51 win over Presbyterian College. Shay Weaver’s 12.7 points per game are a team best.

— E-mail: chuffman@register-herald.com and follow on Twitter @CamHuffmanRH.

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