HUNTINGTON, West Virginia (Ticker) -- Byron Leftwitch tied a school record with six touchdown passes and 24th-ranked Marshall routed Ohio, 42-18, in a Mid-American Conference contest.

Leftwitch completed 28-of-49 passes for 398 yards as Marshall (9-1, 6-0 MAC East) won its ninth straight game and avenged last season's 38-28 loss at Ohio. The Herd also regained possession of the "Bell", given annually to the winner of the contest."

After the game, Marshall coach Bob Pruett accepted an invitation to the Mobile Alabama Bowl on December 19. The Thundering Herd host former Division I-AA rival Youngstown State next Saturday before playing MAC title game on November 30.

Four of Leftwich's touchdown passes were to Darius Watts, including the first three scores of the game as Marshall built a 21-0 lead just over three minutes into the second quarter. He tied the record set by current New York Jets backup quarterback Chad Pennington in a 42-16 win at Ball State on September 27, 1997.

Ohio suffered its fifth straight loss to fall to 1-9 overall and 1-7 in league play.

The Bobcats trailed 21-0 and had their scoreless streak extended to 11 quarters when they found the endzone. Chris Knaack caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Freddie Ray on a fourth-and-goal with 25 seconds left until halftime. But a celebration unsportsmanlike conduct penalty backed up the point-after try 15 yards and it sailed wide.

After allowing Marshall to go ahead 28-6, Ohio scored again. Jamel Patterson broke free from 16 yards out to cut the lead to 28-12, but two-point conversion attempt failed and the score remained 28-12.

But the Thundering Herd marched back down the field to go up 35-12 before the end of the quarter to seal the victory.

Ohio added a third touchdown when Ray found Stafford Owens for a 17-yard scoring strike.