Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
SMU
Marshall Falls at SMU, 31-17
11/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Complete Game Stats in PDF Format 
Nov. 20, 2010
DALLAS - Zach Line ran for 202 yards and a touchdown and Kyle Padron threw two TD passes and ran for a score as SMU defeated Marshall 31-17 Saturday to become bowl eligible.
Line rushed 30 times and Padron was 17-of-30 for 230 yards for the Mustangs (6-5, 5-2 Conference USA), who can clinch a spot in the conference championship game with a victory Friday against East Carolina.
Brian Anderson was 24-of-42 for 277 yards and a touchdown for the Thundering Herd (4-7, 3-4). Anderson rallied Marshall back after the Herd fell behind 24-0 in the first half by directing three second-half scoring drives, however it was not enough to overcome the deficit.
Padron threw both his TD passes in the first half, including a 41-yarder to Aldrick Robinson, to help SMU to the 24-0 halftime lead.
Marshall was held to 50 rushing yards for the game and had its three-game winning streak snapped.
The Thundering Herd broke through for its first score when Tyler Warner connected on a 22-yard field goal at the 13:02 mark of the third quarter to cap off an eight-play, 51-yard Marshall scoring drive.
Marshall then scored roughly four minutes later when Anderson found tight end C.J. Crawford for a 32-yard touchdown pass that completed a brief four-play, 27-yard drive that was set up by one of two Rashad Jackson interceptions in the second half. That scored moved the Herd within in 14 at 24-10.
SMU would answer with a nine-play, 84-yard drive that was finished off with a Zach Line 4-yard plunge to close out the third quarter scoring.
MU battled back and Essray Taliaferoo scored on an 11-yard touchdown run, the first of his collegiate career, with 13:29 to go to close out the scoring. Marshall would threaten to score twice more with a drive that ended at the SMU 8-yard line on downs and another in the final seconds that ended at the SMU 12-yardline with an interception in the endzone.
Butkus Award Semi-Finalist Mario Harvey recorded a game-high 11 tackles and a sack for the Herd, while Rashad Jackson managed two interceptions for 52 yards. Marshall's defense spent most of the first half on the field, as Marshall's offense managed to produce only two first downs and a total of 49 yards in the half.
The Thundering Herd returns to Huntington for its season finale on Saturday. Marshall will honor its out-going senior class when it takes on Tulane at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon and the game will be televised by CBS College Sports.
