Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Football Travels to Kent State Saturday
10/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Marshall Football Travels to Kent State Saturday
10/11/2004
Marshall will attempt to stay perfect in Mid-American Conference play when it travels to Kent State Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. meeting with the Golden Flashes that will be televised live on the Thundering Herd/ISP Sports Network (WSAZ-TV in Huntington-Charleston).
The Thundering Herd, with a record of 2-0, is the only MAC East team without a conference loss.
Marshall is coming off of a 16-13 win at Ohio in the annual ?Battle of the Bell.? Marshall?s defense continued its stellar season against the Bobcats, recording eight sacks and limiting the Bobcats to only 13 points.
Leading the way for the Herd was standout defensive end Jonathan Goddard who was credited with six solo tackles, two sacks, intercepted a pass and returned it 23-yards for a touchdown, deflected two passes, and partially blocked a punt. Goddard now ranks among the national leaders in sacks (8), tackles for a loss (11.5), and forced fumbles (3).
Thundering Herd sophomore kicker/punter Ian O?Connor was also vital in the Herd?s win at Ohio. O?Connor was three-for-three on field goals, including a career-long 52-yarder, and averaged 41.4 yards per punt on seven punts that includes three that were downed inside the 20 and a 64-yarder.
Both Goddard and O'Connor were named MAC East Players of the Week on Monday.
Kent State is off to a deceptive 1-5 start under first year head coach Doug Martin. Kent has lost three games by eight points or less and has played four road games.
The Flashes possess one of the most dangerous playmakers in the MAC in quarterback Joshua Cribbs. The senior standout has passed for 1,081 yards and seven touchdowns in five games for KSU. In addition to this, Cribbs leads Kent State in rushing with 342 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Defensively, Kent is paced by Eric Mahl and Justin Parrish. Mahl leads the team with 57 tackles, while Parrish leads the team in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (10).
