Defensive coordinator Tony Gibson spent countless hours during No. 20 West Virginias bye week getting a head start on figuring out ways to slow down Texas Techs Patrick Mahomes.The Mountaineers (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) did it last year, and theyll find out whether a defense that began the season with nine new starters is ready for the nations passing leader when they travel to Texas Tech (3-2, 1-1) on Saturday.Although West Virginia was tested in its first four games, it avoided having to defend against a prolific offense. All that changes in the high-scoring Big 12, starting with Mahomes.He threw for 504 yards and two touchdowns with a sore shoulder and ran for three more scores in a 44-38 loss at Kansas State last Saturday.He must have had some good medicine, said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen. He didnt look hurt to me.Weve got our work cut out for us on defense.Thats why Gibson has been in the film room looking for ways to exploit Texas Techs offense.I havent found it yet, Gibson said.At least his defense, comprised mostly of seniors, has so far shown its not the weak spot that many thought it might be after being decimated by graduation and the loss of safety Dravon Askew-Henry to a knee injury before the season.West Virginia has allowed only four touchdown passes total and has yet to yield a 300-yard passing effort.Weve got a chip on our shoulder, said West Virginia safety Jarrod Harper. Weve got something to prove. We just want to continue to prove people wrong and continue to make plays and try to be the strong link of the team.Harper, one of the few returning starters, leads the Mountaineers in tackles. Justin Arndt, one of four new starting linebackers, is first in tackles for loss with four and shares the team lead with lineman Noble Nwachukwu (wah-CHOO-koo) with two sacks.Two transfers at cornerback have helped. Starter Antonio Crawford, who came to West Virginia from Miami, sat out a 17-16 win over Kansas State two weeks ago with a shoulder injury. He will return for the Texas Tech game along with Maurice Fleming, a graduate transfer from Iowa who started in Crawfords place but was limited in the second half against Kansas State with an ankle injury.David Long got his first start at linebacker against Kansas State and, although he had only three tackles, prompted a prediction from Gibson that the redshirt freshman could break West Virginias career record for tackles before hes done.Getting to Mahomes will be a tall task, though.We cant sit back and watch, Long said. Just go after him and make plays on the ball. Lets not panic. Lets stay calm. All we can do is go out there and play football.Last week Kansas State returned a Mahomes interception for a first-quarter touchdown and stopped Texas Techs offense on downs three times in the second half.A year ago in Morgantown, Mahomes was held to a season-low 196 passing yards in West Virginias 31-26 win.Weve got to force him into tough situations and tough reads, Harper said. I think if we do that, well be good.Mahomes threw three TD passes against the Mountaineers last year, but Gibson noted the Red Raiders also were forced to kick a pair of short field goals and West Virginia forced a turnover inside its 20-yard line.Hes a gambler, Gibson said. He is going to take his chances on third down and try to keep his offense out there. We have to do a great job on critical downs.Then again, Gibson noted Texas Tech this season is scoring an offensive touchdown once every 11 plays.Thats not real comforting, he said.---Follow John Raby on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jraby-apAP college football website: www.collegefootball.ap.orgCheap Minnesota Vikings Jerseys . One game after a miserable showing in Oklahoma City, Gay tied a career high with 41 points and the Sacramento Kings cruised to a 114-97 victory at the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Cheap Vikings Jerseys Authentic . -- If this was Aaron Gordons final home game at Arizona, and it almost certainly was, then he went out in style. http://www.cheapvikingsjerseyselite.com/ .R. Smith realized how easily basketball can be taken from him, and he wasnt going to take his place in the NBA for granted anymore. Cheap Vikings Jerseys China . Newcastle dominated in the early stages but City weathered the storm and then raised its game in extra time. Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th. Wholesale Vikings Jerseys . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. CLEVELAND -- Jason Kipnis hit one of Clevelands four homers, leading the Indians to a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.Jose Ramirez, Abraham Almonte and Mike Napoli also went deep for the AL Central-leading Indians.Cleveland broke a 2-all tie with a four-run fourth in which Almonte and Napoli homered. The rally came after Billy Butler tied the game with a home run in the top of the inning and flipped his bat several feet from home plate, a move the Indians quickly answered.Josh Tomlin (11-3) allowed two runs in seven innings and moved into a tie with Danny Salazar for the team lead in wins.Dillon Overton (1-2), recalled from Triple-A Nashville before the game, gave up five runs and 10 hits, including three homers, in 3 1/3 innings.Butler and Cleveland catcher Chris Gimenez exchanged words following a pitch with two out in the fourth. Plate umpire Tripp Gibson separated the two and Butler belted the next pitch into the left field bleachers, a drive that traveled an estimated 440 feet.Butler followed with his bat flip, which began a shouting match between the two players. Gibson stood beside Gimenez as Butler rounded the bases and then issued warnings to both dugouts.Butler was loudly booed in his next two at--bats by the crowd of 32,850.dddddddddddd. He walked in the seventh and flied out in the ninth.Danny Valencias two-out single gave Oakland the lead in the first, but Kipnis hit his 17th home run, tying a career high, in the bottom of the inning.Ramirez led off the second with a home run. Butlers homer tied the game, but Cleveland responded with a four-run fourth. Almonte homered to start the inning and Kipnis RBI double finished Overton.Napoli hit his team-leading 23rd homer to dead center off Liam Hendricks.Marcus Semien homered with two out in the ninth off Indians closer Cody Allen.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: LHP Rich Hill was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand, a move retroactive to July 20. Hes eligible to return Thursday.UP NEXTAthletics: RHP Sonny Gray will replace Hill against the Indians on Sunday. Hes 2-8 with a 6.31 ERA in his last eight starts, but is 2-0 in four career outings versus Cleveland.Indians: RHP Corey Kluber is 0-4 in five career appearances against Oakland. The All-Star got a no-decision in his last start against Baltimore. ' ' '