MORGANTOWN — Last week, West Virginia found its starting running back once again. In the first two weeks, last year’s leading rusher, Jahiem White, was the obvious choice, but he went down with a season-ending injury, so it was time to quickly find his replacement.

Clay Ash was next in line and played most of the Ohio game, but the running game couldn’t get going with him in the backfield. He’s more of a receiving back than the downhill rushing Rodriguez had in White.

Tye Edwards came in during the Pitt game and had a big day. He broke tackles, ran hard, rushed for three touchdowns on 25 carries and 141 yards. Without White, Edwards was clearly going to be the RB1 going forward. The offense excelled with him in the backfield.

Edwards’ rushing opened up the passing game and helped WVU come back and beat Pitt in overtime in the Backyard Brawl. Everything was looking up.

On the Wednesday before Kansas, WVU released its first injury report of the season, and surprisingly, Edwards popped up on it. He wasn’t hurt during the Pitt game and played until the end, but he was listed as probable to play against the Jayhawks.

Edwards remained probable until Saturday, when he was listed as a game-time decision. Then, in the first drive, there was no Edwards. And the next drive, he wasn’t there again. He didn’t play the whole game.

“Game time,” Rodriguez said about when he found out Edwards couldn’t go. “He made the trip. I thought he was going to go. He went on the trip, but he couldn’t go. That’s unfortunate.”

Without Edwards, the running game that beat Pitt was nonexistent. Through the first 11 carries, whether that be from Ash or Nicco Marchiol, the team had just 15 yards. After Ash took a couple of drives, Cyncir Bowers came in, and he couldn’t create a spark either.

He ran five times for six yards. Ash carried the ball seven times, picking up 12 yards. Marchiol took off six times and had -4 yards. The offense couldn’t get anything on the ground.

“We have to try and manufacture some run stuff,” Rodriguez said.

The only time the offense looked effective running the ball was when Texas A&M transfer Jaylen Henderson came into the game late. Henderson marched down the field, pretty much single-handedly with his legs, for 77 yards and capped it off with a rushing touchdown.

At that point, it was too late, but the offense finally got something going on the ground. Rodriguez said it’s a lot easier when his ground game has some life.

“When we are able to run the ball, everything is a lot easier,” Rodriguez said. “It is what it is. We got to manufacture it some way. We did a little bit at the end of the game.”

In garbage time, Diore Hubbard and Tyler Jacklich subbed in to get some reps, and they both rushed for over 4 yards per carry, but again, that’s when Kansas let off the gas. Youngster quarterback Khalil Wilkins came in and had some success on the ground, too.

Henderson led the team in rushing with 79 yards, and behind him was Wilkins.

Marchiol, Ash and Bowers were all at the bottom of the rushing stats. And when it was a mix of those three, WVU had just 32 rushing yards in the first half. It quickly showed how important Edwards is to this team.

Edwards is reportedly dealing with a hip injury, and Rodriguez didn’t have an update on his return. Since he was a game-time decision against Kansas, he should be good to go against Utah in Week 5. We’ll find out more on Tuesday during Rodriguez’s press conference.

“We got to see who’s healthy,” Rodriguez said. “It’s just crazy. It’s just one of those years.”