Marshall University Athletics
Herd Offense Starts Clicking in 66-21 Victory
10/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Herd Offense Starts Clicking in 66-21 Victory
10/13/2002
Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich had a memorable first half against Buffalo. |
The clicking sound could be heard all over the Mid-American Conference.
It was coming from the Marshall offense, and it was ringing loudly.
Despite ranking first in Division I-A in total offense, Thundering Herd coach Bob Pruett and Heisman Trophy candidate Byron Leftwich had been being subjected to weekly questions about what was wrong with the Marshall offense.
The answer, in a 66-21 victory over MAC East Division foe Buffalo (1-6, 0-3), was resounding.
?I think this is what everyone has been waiting for,? Leftwich said. ?We made all of the plays we should have made. We finally started clicking.?
Leftwich, above all others, was clicking, In just two quarters of action -- he sat out the entire second half -- he completed 28-of-35 passes for 447 yards and four touchdowns in helping Marshall to a 52-0 halftime lead.
Buffalo coach Jim Hofher described his emotions during the first half.
?He is the best my eyes have seen in college football,? Hofher said. ?The thing about Marshall is that they have excellent protectors, speed and all of their receivers catch really well. I think we only hit him once. Byron drove us crazy. It was a helpless feeling.?
About the only things in doubt after halftime was whether Leftwich would be able to eclipse the NCAA record for passing yards in a game (716 set by David Klingler of Houston in 1990) and the final score.
Marshall Coach Bob Pruett made a decision on the first during halftime, pulling the plug on Leftwich for the day.
?That?s two times I have held him back this year,? Pruett said of the record pursuit. ?He wanted it, he would have liked to have had it, but he?s such a class kid, he understands.?
But the Herd?s excellence in the first half was not limited to Leftwich and the passing game. The effort included a fumble recovery and return for a touchdown and a Marshall Stadium record field goal.
I think that was the best half of football we have played since I have been here, on all sides of the ball,? Pruett said. ?When we click like that, we are a pretty good team.?
The points came early and often for Marshall. Seven first half possessions resulted in six touchdowns and a field goal. J.T. Rembert, who also intercepted a pass in the second half, capped the performance with a 34-yard fumble return for a touchdown.
Leftwich scoring passes went to Darius Watts from 12 and 20 yards, Josh Davis from 63 yards (on the game?s third play) and Denero Marriott from 27 yards. Brandon Carey had a one-yard TD plunge and Curtis Jones scored on a 7-yard reverse.
The youngsters took over for the second half with freshman Wilbur Hargrove making the biggest impact, rushing for 153 yards, including a 78-yard TD run. It was the longest rush from scrimmage for a Marshall player since Chris Parker went 89-yards for a TD against Eastern Illinois on Sept. 12, 1992.