Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
East Carolina
East Carolina Downs Marshall Football, 21-17
10/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 3, 2009
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Junior running back Darius Marshall continued his stellar start to the 2009 season, rushing for a game-high 141 yards and two touchdowns, but it was not enough as East Carolina rallied to take a 21-17 victory over the Thundering Herd football team in Conference USA action Saturday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
With his team trailing 17-14 late in the third quarter, ECU (3-2, 2-0 C-USA) quarterback Pat Pinkney faked a pass and rushed for a 30-yard score, which would prove to be the game-winner.
Marshall (3-2, 1-1 C-USA) let a potential scoring opportunity slip away in the fourth quarter. After moving the ball 35 yards over nine plays to the ECU 45, QB Brian Anderson was stopped on a fourth-and-one quarterback sneak, giving the ball back to the Pirates.
After forcing the Pirates to punt with under two minutes remaining, the Herd had one last chance. Marshall started the drive on its own 7-yard line and on third down, Anderson hit Cody Slate for a 22-yard gain. The drive was stopped two plays later, as Anderson was intercepted by ECU linebacker Jeremy Chambliss, sealing the victory for the Pirates.
East Carolina got the scoring started in the first quarter as RB Brandon Jackson capped off an 80-yard drive, finding the endzone from a yard out with 5:31 left in the opening quarter.
On the ensuing possession, the Herd countered with an 80-yard scoring drive of its own. Darius Marshall was the star on the drive, rushing for 65 yards, including the score from the 1-yard line. The Pirates wrapped up the first-half scoring with 26 seconds remaining in the second quarter as Dominique Lindsay scored on a 3-yard rush to put ECU up 14-7 heading into the locker room.
Thus far in 2009, the third quarter has been the most productive for the Thundering Herd and today was no different. On the first offensive play of the second half for ECU, Marshall linebacker Brandon Burns recorded the second interception of his career, picking off Pinkney at the ECU 46.
Marshall converted the turnover into three points as Craig Ratanamorn hit a 28-yard field goal attempt to bring the Herd with four points, 14-10. The defense for Marshall kept the intensity up, forcing the Pirates into a three-and-out, giving the ball right back to the MU offense.
The Herd took full advantage of strong field position, moving the ball 64 yards over eight plays for the go-ahead score. Darius Marshall led the way once again, rushing for 46 yards on the drive, including a 20-yard touchdown run, dodging several Pirate defenders on his way to the endzone.
ECU rallied right back on its next drive, marching down the field in eight plays, covering 76 yards. On a first-and-25 from the Marshall 30, Pinkney faked a throw before rushing for the 30-yard score. That would be the final score of the game as the Pirates would hold on for the 21-17 victory.
Marshall outgained East Carolina, 306-286, with the majority of its offense coming on the ground. The Herd rushed for 179 yards on 38 carries. Anderson finished the day with 127 yards on 16-of-31 passing. He was picked off twice.
For East Carolina, Pinkney threw for 131 yards while completing 14 of 23 pass attempts. Dominique Lindsay led the offense with 76 yards on the ground and a score.
Ratanamorn kept up his perfect start to the season. He hit his only field goal attempt of the game to improve to 6-6 in that category in 2009 and converted both extra point tries to move to 12-for-12 on the year.
Tight end Cody Slate led all players with nine receptions for 88 yards. The effort pushed his career total for receptions to 175, moving into seventh place on the all-time list.
The Herd will look to get back to its winning ways next weekend as it will travel to New Orleans, La. to face Tulane. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on CSS and WOWK/WVNS TV. Following an October 17 matchup at West Virginia, the Herd will return home on October 24 to face UAB.
