Game report: West Virginia 49, Kansas 0

First quarter

Key play: West Virginia’s running game was in full force on Saturday and they show it off with Rushel Shell. His 26-yard touchdown run broke the game wide open at 21-0 and really showed that the Mountaineers were in charge.

Key stat: Mountaineers’ 198 rushing yards as a team. Skyler Howard, Wendall Smallwood and Shell all started out well and helped the team to a 9.9 yards-per-carry average for the quarter.

Second quarter

Key play: Skylar Howard hit Cody Clay for a 2-yard pass for the only passing touchdown of the game for West Virginia.

Key stat: Although they didn’t need it in the end, Howard balanced out the offensive attack a little bit in the second quarter going 7-for-11 passing.

Third quarter

Key play: Smallwood scored from 1-yard run for the only scoring play of the quarter. At that point, Smallwood had 129 total yards and two touchdowns.

Key stat: 365. The difference in yardage between West Virginia (507) and Kansas (142) by quarter’s end.

Fourth quarter

Key play: Kansas looked like it had a chance to score a touchdown, but Nana Kyeremeh picked off Ryan Willis in the end zone.

Key stat: Two interceptions. The Jayhawks managed two picks of their own from Michael Glatczak and Derrick Neal in the fourth quarter.

Offense

F

Offense has been hurting Kansas for most of the year and this time they just could not produce any at all. Ryan Willis looked uncomfortable in the pocket and was running from West Virginia defenders a bunch too. And when the running backs, wide receivers and offensive line struggle to make plays too, it’s a long day for the Kansas offense.

Defense

F

The Jayhawks defense just did not have any answer for the West Virginia offense. When a team gives up three different 100-yard runners, it’s just a poor performance. What has to be disheartening to Jayhawks fans is the great effort they put out last week against TCU. Now the defense is back to square one for the final game of the year.

Special teams

C

Once again, Matthew Wymann did a fine job with his punting duties as he learns the new position. Today he averaged 40.6 per attempt on 12 tries. There wasn't anything spectacular from the punting or kicking units, but there were not any problems.

Coaching

F

After going into halftime down 42-0, David Beaty and his staff got a little better effort from the players, but the damage had been done. With such a good effort last week, it looked like the players were unprepared for the stout rushing attack by West Virginia. Beaty will have to do his best coaching job of the year next if he will be able to beat Kansas State and Bill Snyder.

Player of the game: Joe Dineen. With Fish Smithson out, Dineeen stepped up with a boatload of tackles. He was everywhere on the field and continued to keep grinding until the last whistle. Dineen has two more years of eligibility left, so the Jayhawks should be happy to have this piece of the defensive puzzle.

Reason to hope: It is a rivalry game next week. Instead of ending the year with some other team, the Jayhawks will face Kansas State. This is the only game left on the schedule, so desperation to avoid a winless season might make them a dangerous team.

Reason to mope: Kansas just can’t get anything going on offense. Willis looked off and the rushing game did not help him out. This could be potentially a big problem for the Jayhawks against a veteran, well-disciplined team in Kansas State. Without some early scores against the Wildcats, it could be another defeat to the in-state rival.

Looking ahead: Kansas ends its season against Kansas State at 3 p.m Saturday in Memorial Stadium. Its the last chance for the Jayhawks to salvage something to the season.

This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Game report: West Virginia 49, Kansas 0."