MORGANTOWN — West Virginia’s identity, and what Rich Rodriguez wanted the team’s identity to be was running the football. Rodriguez wanted to use the hard edge and out-muscle teams, pushing them back, creating holes for the running backs and the quarterback.
WVU hadn’t run over teams, but the identity and the focus of the offense were definitely running the ball. However, it switched against TCU. The Mountaineers couldn’t get anything on the ground and rushed for just 41 yards. Instead, WVU was forced to throw the ball 41 times for 301 yards.
Against No. 22 Houston, the running game got rolling again. The offensive line had been criticized for not getting enough push up front to get the run game moving, but showed improvement and silenced the critics for the time being against the Cougars.
“I’m very proud of them guys,” running back Diore Hubbard said. “I wish ya’ll give them the credit for what happened today.”
Rodriguez counted on the run game late in the game when the Mountaineers were ahead 45-35. WVU called Hubbard’s number to pick up two yards on fourth-and-2, which, if it was picked up, would end the game, pulling off the upset of the 22nd-ranked team in the country.
Hubbard picked up the first, and the game was over. This was just a week after WVU couldn’t pick up one yard on fourth down a few times in crucial situations against TCU.
“To end the game with getting a key first down, when everybody knows you are going to run it, kind of embodies what we want up front,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to see if we could do it. Can we make a first down when we have to make a first down and everybody knows we are going to run it, and they did and sealed the game.
The Mountaineers rushed for 246 yards and four touchdowns. They finally dominated a team on the ground, and it was more impressive that it was against No. 22 Houston, who is a top 5 defense in the Big 12, and allowed the fourth fewest rushing yards. WVU ran it all over the Cougars.
“It was just about being physical,” Hubbard said. “Moving the line of scrimmage. That was the message. That’s been the message all year; we just finally got it done.”
The Mountaineers’ rushing attack was a group effort. WVU is without its top two running backs, Jahiem White and Tye Edwards, for the rest of the year, so it was up to the youngsters Hubbard and Cyncir Bowers to step up. It was a combination of the two of them most of the day, with a couple of plays where Clay Ash came in.
Hubbard took the bulk of the carries and rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown. He scored the dagger at the end of the game to put the Mountaineers up 45-28.
“Diore Hubbard ran his tail off,” Rodriguez said. “I challenged him. I said, ‘We got to run hard, make them tackle you.’ He ran possessed today.”
Bowers was more of a home run-hitting running back and broke off some big rushes. Bowers had a 21-yard touchdown rush that really put the shock into Houston when it was down 14-0 after WVU’s first two drives.
Fox also helped out in the running game. He also had a big rush late, sprinting past the defense on fourth-and-4 for a 34-yard touchdown. He was second in rushing with 65 yards and two touchdowns.
After a promising day on the ground, WVU’s rushing attack faces Colorado next week, who has the worst rushing defense in the Big 12, so it should be another big day on the ground for the Mountaineers.
“We talked all week about coming off the ball, coming off the ball, coming off the ball,” Rodriguez said. “We know they are capable of doing it. They did it.”
