The Sports Xchange
Nov 21, 2015

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- West Virginia crushed Kansas 49-0 on Saturday, producing three 100-yard rushers in a game for the first time since 1969.

Quarterback Skyler Howard ran for 129 yards on only nine carries to spark the Mountaineers (6-4, 3-4 Big 12), who led 42-0 at half and made sure there was no repeat of their 2013 upset loss at Memorial Stadium, when the Jayhawks snapped a 27-game Big 12 losing streak. Kansas (0-11, 0-8) has dropped 18 of 19 conference games since that day, including 11 consecutive.

Running back Wendell Smallwood piled up 115 yards and running back Rushel Shell ran for 108, and each scored twice to help West Virginia win its third straight game and become bowl-eligible.

West Virginia nearly matched its highest point total of the season late in the first half, but the Jayhawks blocked Josh Lambert's 41-yard field goal to preserve the 42-0 score. By that juncture, the Mountaineers had outgained Kansas 402-59 and led 20-1 in first downs.

Howard also ran in a 9-yard score, tossed a 2-yarder to Cody Clay and completed 13-of-22 passes for 133 yards before leaving in the third quarter.

Cornerback Terrell Chestnut, after forcing a fumble to foil Kansas' first possession, returned an interception 32 yards on the next series to make it 14-0.

Shell's first-quarter scoring runs covered 8 and 26 yards and Smallwood tacked on a 24-yard touchdown to help build a 28-0 cushion in the opening 13 minutes. Smallwood added a 1-yard score in the third quarter.