LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- One run-happy victory and an NCAA quarterback-rushing record for Patrick White safely in their pockets yesterday afternoon, the Mountaineers at long last exhaled and uttered a four-letter word they remember too well from 51 weeks ago.

"Pitt is Pitt," defensive tackle Scooter Berry was saying moments after a 35-21 dispatching of host Louisville at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium, beginning the countdown until the 101st rivalry rendition Friday at Heinz Field. "It's the Backyard Brawl. We lost last year. It's still going to have the same tenacity built up in all our players."

That 13-9 loss to Pitt not only cost then-No. 2 West Virginia considerable face and a spot in the national championship game, it contributed to the exit of a head coach and the entrance of a bumpy transition year. Berry, who mentioned last week that he long had the Pitt rematch circled on his calendar, was asked if the 363-day buildup might be too much.

"Too psyched? I think I'm psyched just enough for Pitt," Berry added. "This time, we're going down there, it's going to be a show. Both teams. Smart football players are allowed to put things on the back burner until they need to be brought forth. It's definitely the right time to bring it out ... It's going to be a real fun week. Especially a real fun Friday."

Yesterday, the Mountaineers (7-3, 4-1 Big East) put an overtime home loss Nov. 8 to Cincinnati behind them and put their zone-sweep running game back on track. They ran mostly wide for a season-high 376 yards.

White bolted for a season-high 200 yards on 21 carries and had three touchdowns by land, two by air. He accounted for every Mountaineers touchdown, giving him the Big East career record with 98 and counting for a mark previously held by Syracuse's Donovan McNabb (1995-98) at 95 rushing and passing.

He had touchdown runs on zone sweeps covering 66 and 43 yards, season longs.

"Normal day? Not for this year," said White, who, in one afternoon, nearly equaled his eight-game season total of four rushing scores.

"Maybe two years ago," when he last rushed for 200 -- some 23 starts ago -- against Pitt.

Most historic, the 200 gave White the major-college record for quarterback rushing with 4,292 career yards and counting, eclipsing Brad Smith of Missouri (2002-05).

It was the first time in a half-dozen games, since Colorado, that White and Noel Devine (154 yards) topped triple digits in rushing. Most of it came on runs around end.

"Once we found a little weakness, we kept hitting that spot. Kept running the outside zones," said Seneca Valley High's Don Barclay, who made his first career start for ailing left guard Greg Isdaner (head), who played one series.

Barclay played alongside second-time starter Eric Jobe, who replaced Jeannette's Mike Dent at center.

West Virginia's offense failed to score on nine plays from the Louisville 11 or closer to end the 7-7 first half. Three times, they failed to score from the 1. In all, they failed to gain 3 yards or less on third down or near the goal-line five consecutive times.

"The big-bang game," coach Bill Stewart noted, "we got to get better at that."

White personally turned two Louisville giveaways into almost instant West Virginia touchdowns on foot. The Cardinals (5-6, 1-4), losers of four games in a row, had five turnovers in all.

Mistakes. Frustration. Two interceptions. One defense that couldn't stop the run, much like yesterday, when West Virginia gave up a season-worst 198 yards rushing and its two longest plays this season. Such problems, and more, helped to add up to that 13-9 loss a year ago.

With West Virginia needing a Pitt victory at Cincinnati to keep alive the Mountaineers' BCS-bowl aspirations, Berry exited Louisville's stadium yesterday offering under his breath, "If Cincinnati can't pull it out, that'll make everything that much better ...

"Go Pitt," he added, putting a fist to his mouth. He forced a cough almost 13 times.

NOTES -- Chris Neild (toe) missed the first quarter but returned to try to help solve the run-defense problem. He along with Isdaner, McKeesport linebacker Anthony Leonard (foot), linebacker J.T. Thomas (ankle) and White (ankle) should be fine for Pitt, Stewart said. ... A retooled kickoff unit gave up 11.2 yards per return, nearly one-third the average that ranked 119th and last in major-college football.