West Virginia running back Diore Hubbard, right, carries the ball during a game against TCU earlier this season in Morgantown. (Photo by David Pennock)

It wouldn’t be a week of the West Virginia football season without a season-ending injury. Now, with this being the final week of the year, any injury that keeps a player out for Texas Tech would be season-ending.

Rich Rodriguez announced Monday night on his radio show that his thin running back room took another big hit. Starting running back Diore Hubbard has been ruled out for the Texas Tech game, ending his season. Hubbard was banged up against Arizona State and rushed just two times.

“Well, the bad luck is over with right?” Rodriguez said. “Diore was coming around, and next thing you know, he’s out for the season.”

WVU’s running back room was already scarce, with first and second-string running backs, Jahiem White and Tye Edwards, being done for the year. Hubbard stepped up, carrying a bulk of the workload, rushing for 108 yards in the ranked win against Houston.

Without Hubbard, WVU is left with Cyncir Bowers and a pass rusher turned running back, Curtis Jones, to handle most of the carries. Bowers will be the lead back as the more traditional running back.

“Probably going to have to play Curtis more at running back,” Rodriguez said. “He was just doing a little bit. Gonna do a little bit more. Obviously, Cycnir Bowers is going to get a crack and do some stuff.

Bowers is one of the more explosive backs on the team and had a big 90-yard receiving touchdown against Arizona State. He didn’t see much success on the ground, rushing for only 42 yards with a long of six yards. Bowers has just two rushing touchdowns this year, and carried the ball for 246 yards this year. For the short yardage situations, Jones will be used a lot more. His reps have slowly increased over the past couple of weeks since his two rushing touchdowns on three carries against Colorado. Jones had seven carries for 12 yards and just one touchdown against Arizona State.

Other than those two, pass-catching back Clay Ash has been banged up, and bigger running back Tyler Jacklich is also working to be back for this week.

Ash played in eight games this year, but hasn’t played since Houston. He has just 131 yards on the season. Jacklich has played in just two games against Kansas and Houston. He has just eight carries all year.

With all the injuries, anything they can do on the field will help.

“Clay is going to be able to practice this week,” Rodriguez said. “Should be able to help as well. Tyler Jacklich, who’s been hurt, would’ve been playing the past couple of weeks. He’s got a chance. He’s a bigger guy. He’s got a chance to play this weekend. We’ll see what happens in the next couple of days.”

Ultimately, it’ll be up to the offensive line to create push up front. On a couple of short yardage situations against Arizona State, WVU couldn’t pick up a yard down in the red zone, which frustrated Rodriguez after the game. Any can run through a large enough hole.

The line and the assortment of remaining running backs will have their work cut out for them this week against a talented defensive line and linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, who is in the Heisman Trophy conversation.

“The quarterback and running back situation has been funny,” Rodriguez said. “I know a lot of teams are like we’ve battled through injuries and lost one guy. How about losing three or four in that position? We’ll get it all out of the way this year, and then go from there.”