Marshall University Athletics
Turnovers Cost Herd In Loss To Akron
11/3/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Turnovers Cost Herd In Loss To Akron
11/3/2002
Akron, OH (Sports Network) - Charlie Frye threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score to lead the Akron Zips to a 34-20 upset victory over the Marshall Thundering Herd in Mid-American Conference action.
Bob Hendry ran for 120 yards on 28 carries in the win for the Zips (2-7, 1-4 MAC).
Byron Leftwich completed 26-of-38 passes for 307 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in defeat for Marshall (6-2, 4-1). Leftwich suffered a left leg injury in the second quarter, and despite reports that he would not return, the standout quarterback played most of the third and fourth quarters with a noticeable limp.
With 6:26 remaining in the opening period, Rickey McKenzie returned a fumble 98 yards for a touchdown to give Akron a 7-0 lead.
Marshall managed to tie the score with 2:16 remaining in the first quarter on a two-yard touchdown plunge by Franklin Wallace.
Just 11 seconds in to the second quarter, the Thundering Herd took a 10-7 lead on a 37-yard field goal by Curtis Head.
Akron then scored 10 points in a span of 1:52 to take a 17-10 edge, as Brandon Payne plunged into the end zone from one yard out and Billy Sullivan nailed a 41-yard field goal.
The Zips were not done, however, as a 28-yard touchdown pass from Frye to Mike Brake increased the lead to 24-10 at intermission.
With 9:19 left in the third quarter, Sullivan connected on a 36-yard field goal to put Akron ahead 27-10, capping off a streak of 20 unanswered points for the Zips.
Wallace plunged into the end zone from the one-yard line with 4:12 remaining in the third quarter to cut Marshall's deficit to 27-17, but a 26-yard scoring scamper by Frye in the final minute of the period restored Akron's 17-point lead.
The only points of the fourth quarter came on a 23-yard field goal by Head.