Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Runs Past Akron, 42-24
11/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Marshall Runs Past Akron, 42-24
11/1/2003
- Box Score
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Earl Charles rushed for 121 yards and three scores, and Butchie Wallace rushed for 147 yards and a score to lead Marshall University to a 42-24 victory over the University of Akron in Mid-American Conference action Saturday.
In the process, Charles and Wallace became the first running back tandem at Marshall (6-3 overall, 4-1 MAC) to rush for over 100 yards apiece in the same game since Doug Chapman and Llow Turner accomplished the feat against Kent State in 1998. Their performance also helped Marshall set a new Marshall Stadium rushing record with 374 yards of rushing - the most by an MU team since the Herd accumulated 388 rushing yards against East Tennessee State on November 4, 1995.
"Our running backs ran the ball very well tonight," Marshall head coach Bob Pruett said. "Butchie, Earl, and Tank all did a great job and I cannot say enough about their performance tonight."
Quarterback Graham Gochneaur converted 15-of-25 pass attempts for 199 yards, while tossing two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also rushed for 52 yards.
"Graham was excellent," Pruett said. "He did a great job of getting us in and out of plays and throwing the ball."
Jason Schroeder led all Marshall receivers with five receptions for 98 yards and one score, while Darius Watts chipped in with four receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Marshall's defense also shined in the win. The Herd limited Akron to only 141 rushing yards and senior Gladstone Coke intercepted two Charlie Frye passes.
"I was really proud of our football team and coaches," Pruett said. "The defense was outstanding and we controlled the line of scrimmage. We were good in every phase of the game and it was a great win for us."
Charlie Frye completed 16-of-32 pass attempts for 210 yards and two scores, pacing Akron (5-5, 3-3) in defeat. Jerell Ringer led the Zips with 49 yards and one score on five rushing attempts, while Nick Sparks had 72 yards receiving and one touchdown off of four receptions.
Marshall opened the scoring early in the first quarter when Charles broke the plain on a two-yard run, giving the Thundering Herd the 7-0 lead.
The Zips answered back with a 41-yard passing strike from Frye to Sparks midway through the period.
Wallace broke a 36-yard run just minutes later, to regain the lead for Marshall at 14-7.
Rickey McKenzie returned an interception 43 yards, tying the game at 14-14 late in the opening frame.
Charles then scampered into the end zone from six yards out early in the second period, giving the Herd a 21-14 advantage.
Schroeder was on the receiving end of a 20-yard strike from Gochneaur, which extended Marshall's lead to 14 points.
Jason Swiger hit a 37-yard field goal late in the first half, cutting Akron's deficit to 28-17.
With less than a minute remaining in the second quarter, Charles broke a 19- yard run to give the Thundering Herd a 35-17 lead going into the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, Watts caught a five-yard pass from Gochneaur early in the final frame to extend Marshall's lead to 42-17.
Ringer broke a 40-yard run minutes later for Akron, but it was not enough, as the Zips fell by 18 points.
Matt Cherry's four receptions set an Akron single-season record at 57, breaking the old record of 53 catches, which was set by teammate Miquel Irvin last season. Cherry also became the career reception leader at Akron with 140 career catches.
Marshall will return to action on Wednesday, November 12th at Miami (OH). Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be televised by ESPN2.