West Virginia running back Rushel Shell (7) heads up field against Baylor in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct 17, 2015, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Rod Aydelotte)

MORGANTOWN — A year ago West Virginia University head football coach Dana Holgorsen and running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider challenged Wendell Smallwood and Rushel Shell to take control when the Mountaineers played host to Big 12 rival Texas Tech at Milan Puskar Stadium.

The challenge worked as both eclipsed the 100-yard mark to lead the Old Gold and Blue to a 31-26 victory. Smallwood, who elected to forego his senior season, led the way with 163 yards and a touchdown while Shell finished with 111 yards and two scores. More importantly, the duo, as well as some dominant offensive line play, were responsible in WVU being able to run out the final six minutes of the contest.

“It (the running game) allowed us to control the ball at the end and we ended up taking a knee at the 1-yard line on the game’s final play,” Holgorsen explained during Tuesday’s media conference. “Obviously, it could be a big factor in Saturday’s game as well.

“But, Texas Tech’s defense may have something to say about that, too. If they decide to load the box to stop the run, then we are going to have to make the necessary adjustments in-game to counter what they are doing.”

So far the Mountaineers (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) have been able to do exactly that this season as well as having done it in back-to-back victories over the Red Raiders.

“Obviously, Tech is a team that poses a lot of challenges and they have for a long time,” continued the Mountaineers’ sixth-year head coach. “It should be fun. I love making the trip. I’m excited for the 11 a.m. kickoff. Any time we (the road team) can play that early on the road it suits us well.”

That wasn’t the case the last time the Old Gold and Blue entered Jones AT&T Stadium.

Fresh off of a dramatic victory over Texas the Mountaineers headed to Lubbock with a 5-0 mark and a No. 4 national ranking only to have the Red Raiders slam the door on WVU’s up-to-then prolific passing attack and send the first-year conference members back to the Mountain State on the short end of a 49-14 score.

“Right now we are averaging 29 points per game. That’s not going to be enough on Saturday. We are moving the ball, we’re getting a lot of yards. We just need to score more. We’ve played great defense the last two years against them, but they are scoring on average every 11 plays at their place. So, we’re going to have to finish drives with touchdowns and that may cause us to take a few more chances than we would normally.”

Good news for WVU is that Shell, who has rushed for 244 yards and a trio of touchdowns, is back and has a new backfield mate in junior college transfer Justin Crawford.

“They are both going to play and they are both going to play a lot,” Seider explained. “To win these next eight games we are going to need both to play well. The only thing I would change is that I would get Kennedy (McCoy) more carries.”

Crawford has made the most of his 60 touches this season, rushing for a team-leading 331 yards and finding the end zone twice while McCoy, who has three catches for 32 yards and a touchdown, has only four carries for 39 yards.

“At some point we are going to have at least two of them on the field at the same time and maybe all three,” continued the running backs coach. “For us to win this game we’ve got to be able to run the ball. And, I am just a sure that they are going to do whatever they have to do to stop us.”

Especially since the Red Raiders possess one of the most potent offenses in college football led by junior signal-caller Patrick Mahomes.

“We don’t have a 6-5 kid that can sit back there in the pocket and pick you apart and when he is hit, break the tackle to keep the play alive,” said Holgorsen. “Skyler (Howard) does a great job for us, but that’s not his game.”

Mahomes sits the conference standards in passing yards (2,274) and touchdowns (20) and has completed 72.8 percent of his attempts (166-of-228) with only four interceptions. Howard isn’t far off, completing 65.8 percent (98-of-149) of this throws for 1,272 yards and seven scores, but has also seen four of his attempts end up in the opposition’s hands.

“In a perfect world that (running the ball) is what you want to do,” added Holgorsen. “But, if you get down a couple of scores, that’s not going to work. You’ve got to look at what the defense is giving you and be prepared to make adjustments even in-game.”

Saturday’s fifth meeting between the two programs will be the Red Raiders Homecoming game and will air nationally on Fox Sports 1. Texas Tech is 54-29-3 all time on Homecoming and defeated Iowa State, 66-31, a year ago.