Sept. 25, 2010
Final Stats | Notes
HUNTINGTON, WV-The Marshall Thundering Herd fought off a furious last-second Ohio rally to emerge with a 24-23 win Saturday evening at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
The Herd improved to 1-3 overall, while Ohio dropped to 1-3.
Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson completed 21 of 30 attempts for 295 yards and three touchdowns, while running backs Andre Booker and Martin Ward combined for 92 yards on 34 carries from the backfield. Seven of Anderson's targets went to Antavious Wilson, who had 119 receiving yards with two touchdown receptions.
Ohio quarterback Boo Jackson completed 11 of 20 passes for 155 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Quarterback Phil Bates also rushed 11 times for 60 yards. Wideout Terrence McCrae had four grabs for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Marshall's Kellen Harris had a game-high 12 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss. Vinny Curry was also a force with 11 stops, including two sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. Ohio was powered by linebacker Jay Edwards' 11 tackles, including a half tackle for loss. Defensive lineman Stafford Gatling also registered 2.5 tackles for loss.
The Herd got on the board first when Anderson found Wilson on a 45-yard strike deep down the middle to give the hosts a 7-0 lead with 7:04 remaining. That drive started at the Marshall eight-yard line, but Anderson hit wideout Aaron Dobson on a 42-yard bomb deep down the right sideline to put the Herd in business at the Ohio 48.
Jackson now has 24 career touchdown passes, which ties him for third with Sammy Shon (1978-81) on Ohio's career list. He also surpassed the 3,000-yard mark and now has 3,007, good enough for eighth all-time in school history.
The Bobcats first dented the scoreboard when kicker Matt Weller connected from 48 yards out on a 12-play, 55-yard drive to pull Ohio within 7-3 with 3:48 left in the first half. Wideout Riley Dunlop had a 19-yard catch during the drive, while fellow receiver Steven Goulet hauled in a 16-yard reception.
The kick was Weller's 26th career field goal, moving him into sole possession of fourth place in Ohio's career record book.
Marshall put another touchdown on the board near the end of the half when Booker caught a seven-yard sideline pass and scampered into the end zone with 1:15 remaining in the half. However, the Bobcats were able to block the extra point to keep the Herd advantage at 13-3. Booker set up his score with catches of 22 and 34 yards earlier in the drive.
McCrae's diving grab of a two-yard lob from Jackson in the corner of the end zone pulled the Bobcats within 13-10 at the 11:51 mark of the third quarter. McCrae's 46-yard catch on a long bomb down the middle from Bates gave Ohio a first-and-goal at the Marshall seven-yard line.
Marshall kicker Tyler Warner hit a 23-yard field goal with 3:30 left to give the Herd a 16-10 lead. Anderson hit Wilson on a 33-yard pass out in the flat to set up the Herd with a first-and-goal at the Ohio nine-yard line.
Ohio pulled out some trickery for its next score when holder Paul Hershey successfully executed a fake field goal attempt with a six-yard run to the corner of the end zone to put Ohio up 17-16, an advantage it took into the fourth quarter. The score was the first touchdown of Hershey's career. McCrae had the drive's key play with a 34-yard catch down the sideline on a pass from Jackson.
Marshall struck back with a 12-yard scoring pass from Anderson to Wilson, who eluded two Bobcat defenders to finish off a monster 14-play, 70 yard drive that ate up six minutes, 43 seconds. Anderson found Chuck Walker in the end zone on a two-point conversion to put the Herd up 24-17 with 8:21 left. Anderson hit Dobson on a 17-yard completion on 3rd and 11 from the Ohio 29 for one the drive's biggest plays.
The Bobcat defense stiffened near the end of the game and forced a Marshall punt to regain the ball at the Ohio 28 with 1:01 left. Ohio was able to get the ball down to the Marshall 36-yard line with eight seconds left for one final gasp. Jackson then found McCrae on a Hail Mary in the back of the end zone for the electrifying score to pull the Bobcats within one with no time on the clock. The grab was McCrae's 13th career receiving touchdown, moving him into third in the school's record book, passing Andrew Mooney (2007-08) and Tom Compernolle (1983-86).
The Bobcat coaching staff then elected to go for the win with a two-point conversion attempt, but the try failed when Jackson's attempt to hit Dunlop in the middle of the end zone fell to the turf.
Ohio will back in action Saturday at noon at Eastern Michigan (0-4).
