West Virginia had three players surpass 100 rushing yards in a 49-0 shutout of Kansas Saturday afternoon.
Skyler Howard (129 yards), Wendell Smallwood (115) and Rushel Shell (108) became the first WVU trio to have 100-plus yards in the same game since 1938. They combined for five touchdowns.
The Mountaineers became bowl eligible after recording their first road shutout since 2005. In doing so, West Virginia totaled 426 yards on the ground, while also throwing for 204 yards.
It’s not hard to see what is working for WVU right now. While it’s completely unfamiliar territory for a Dana Holgorsen coached team, the best adjustment he made in the team’s three-game winning streak was changing his mindset.
Play calls are getting better due to Holgorsen understanding how this team will find success. And while the Mountaineers are now playing the easier teams in the Big 12 Conference, they have found their recipe for success.
Smallwood, Shell and Howard on the ground.
West Virginia is in a very good position to finish with eight or nine wins following games against Iowa State, Kansas State and the Mountaineers’ bowl game.
Smallwood has 1,234 yards this season, and is averaging 6.7 yards per carry. His eight rushing scores leads the team. Shell had 598 yards total and seven rushing touchdowns, while Howard has rushed for 419 yards and five scores on the grounds.
Wendell Smallwood with a 24-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. #WVU @WeetWithThe_WAM pic.twitter.com/Fjt1TCeHnx
— Geoff Coyle (@GFCoyle) November 21, 2015
How much more successful has the West Virginia running game been than the passing game?
WVU has rushed for a total of 2,444 yards, averaging about five yards per run. In the passing game, West Virginia has 2,254 yards, with a 55.8 percent completion percentage and a 19-to-12 TD-to-INT ratio.
A lot of credit for the Mountaineers’ success on the ground has to go to the offensive line. It is experienced, and offensive line coach Ron Crook has done a tremendous job in his unit creating holes for the running backs.
While it may not be the norm in Morgantown, the WVU rushing attack is what works.
Skyler Howard became the first Mountaineer since Pat White in 2008 to throw for & run for 100 yards in same game. pic.twitter.com/OCjh8Bv9Pi
— Jed Drenning (@TheSignalCaller) November 22, 2015
