Marshall University Athletics
RedHawks Clinch MAC East, Down Herd, 45-6
11/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
RedHawks Clinch MAC East, Down Herd, 45-6
11/12/2003
OXFORD, Ohio - The Miami RedHawks defeated the Marshall Thundering Herd, 45-6 Wednesday night in Mid-American Conference play. The RedHawks? win clinches a MAC East Division title, Miami?s first since the league expanded to two divisions in 1997.
The loss is the Herd?s worst since a 42-0 defeat at the hands of the Toledo Rockets on October 14, 2000 at the Glass Bowl. It is also the Herd?s lowest scoring total of the season, and the lowest since the aforementioned loss to the Rockets.
First half play was dominated by the home-standing RedHawks, who took a 28-6 lead into the halftime break. Miami jumped on Marshall early with three consecutive touchdowns, converting on both the offensive and defensive ends of the field. On Miami?s first possession of the game, RedHawk junior quarterback Ben Roethlisberger rushed for 15 yards on a 4th and 13 situation to keep a drive alive, and then found senior tight end Matt Brandt for a 14-yard touchdown score to give Miami a 7-0 lead.
After the Herd stopped Miami on a 4th and 15 chance from Marshall?s 25, the RedHawks responded on their next drive, going five plays for 72 yards in 2:29 with running back Mike Smith capping the drive with a two-yard plunge.
Staring at a 14-0 deficit, Herd quarterback Graham Gochneaur was then intercepted by Terna Nande, who returned his third interception of the year 43 yards for a touchdown.
Down 21-0 with seven minutes to play, Marshall converted a 4th and 3 with a fake punt on a 36 yard run by junior running back Earl Charles. Two and a half minutes later, Gochneaur found Darius Watts on a five-yard corner pattern to cut Miami?s lead to 21-6. Momentum looked to be finally turning in Marshall?s direction at Yaeger Stadium. Watts? touchdown reception was his 46th career TD catch, which now puts him only four behind all-time leader Troy Edwards of Louisiana Tech.
The RedHawks squashed any more Herd momentum, however, as Roethlisberger pushed the RedHawks into Marshall?s end zone on their next possession in five plays and 65 yards, with the final play coming on a 17-yard touchdown run by Smith, his second touchdown of the game.
Roethlisberger finished an outstanding first half of play, 13 of 17 passes for 207 yards and one touchdown. Miami converted four of six third down conversions and was three of four in the red zone in the first half.
Meanwhile, Marshall had 184 yards of total offense, while Gochneaur completed nine of 16 passes for 87 yards and one touchdown.
The second half was more of the same, as Marshall never could get anything going offensively. And, as has been the case all season, the Herd was once again plagued by turnovers. Marshall committed five turnovers on the night, marking the eighth time this season the Herd has turned the ball over three or more times in a game.
Miami outgained Marshall 494-234 in total yards, and had the ball for nearly 36 minutes of the contest, compared to 24 minutes for the Thundering Herd.
For the game, Roethlisberger was outstanding, completing 18 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns.
Marshall continues Wednesday night play with a nationally televised contest with UCF at 7:30 p.m. on November 19th.