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Marshall makes it three in a row
Associated Press
RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PONTIAC, Mich. -- Marshall showed that there's life after
Randy Moss and Chad Pennington.
|  | | Marshall defensive end Paul Toviessi celebrates a safety in the second quarter of Marshall's 25-14 win over Cincinnati in the Motor City Bowl. |
The Thundering Herd beat Cincinnati 25-14 Wednesday in the Motor
City Bowl in front of 26,018 fans at the Silverdome, to give
Marshall a three-game winning streak in the bowl after losing the
inaugural game in 1997.
"I hope you never get tired of us coming," Marshall coach Bob
Pruett said.
Marshall (8-5) won six of its last seven games in what was
expected to be a rebuilding year after Pennington graduated. Moss,
who played for the Thundering Herd for two years, is in his third
NFL season.
"One guy don't make a football team," Pruett said. "Certainly, we've had some great players here. But we've won 58 games in five years. One or two guys don't do that."
Marshall may not have any big-name players now, but it thinks it
will have one in sophomore quarterback Byron Leftwich.
Leftwich threw a 77-yard touchdown pass on the fourth play of
the game and rushed for a score, making up for two turnovers in the
second quarter. Leftwich was 17-of-30 for 221 yards and earned the
game's Most Valuable Player award.
"I always felt that I was a good quarterback and the last two
years I've been behind a great one in Chad," Leftwich said. "I
just had to wait my turn and get a chance. I think today I really
showed what I could do, and I am proud to lead a continually proud
line of Marshall quarterbacks."
Cincinnati (7-5), which won its last four regular-season games,
played in just its second bowl since 1951. Deontey Kenner was
19-of-39 for 189 yards with two interceptions, and DeMarco
McCleskey rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns.
"Today's defeat is just a setback and is not detrimental to the
program," Cincinnati coach Rick Minter said. "This is the best
team I've had here at Cincinnati in terms of character and playing
ability."
Marshall scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the second
half after Cincinnati went three-and-out on consecutive
possessions. The Thundering Herd sealed the win on a 25-yard field
goal from J.R. Jenkins with 43 seconds left.
Cincinnati's offense stalled at the Thundering Herd's 44 late in
the third quarter and at their 41 midway through the fourth quarter
when it had a chance to tie it.
The Bearcats also got the ball back at their 9 with 3:02 left,
but were unable to get a first down after three passes were
deflected near the line of scrimmage.
The flow of the game was interrupted by 25 combined penalties for 190 yards.
"I think the penalties killed us," Kenner said.
The Thundering Herd said Cincinnati talked a lot of trash
before, during and after the game.
"They're just like Florida State," McCleskey said.
Marshall took a 7-0 lead when Leftwich connected with Darius
Watts for the 77-yard touchdown. Leftwich threw the ball about 20
yards while Watts raced through the Bearcats defense the rest of
the way for the score.
"Once you get the ball in that guy's hands, there's not too
many guys that can catch him," Leftwich said.
The Bearcats also scored a touchdown on their first possession
when McCleskey dove for a 1-yard touchdown.
Marshall's Michael Owens, who was named the game's top lineman,
eluded a blocker and tackled Ray Jackson for a safety to give the
Thundering Herd a 9-7 lead late in the first quarter.
Leftwich threw an interception and fumbled in Marshall territory
on consecutive possessions in the second quarter.
The Bearcats scored after the second turnover to take a 14-9
lead with 1:44 left in the half. On a fourth-and-1, McCleskey took
an option pitch and ran in easily for a 2-yard touchdown.
Marshall also scored on its first possession of the second half
on Leftwich's 1-yard sneak.
Frank Wallace, who rushed for 78 yards, capped an 11-play drive
with a 4-yard run to put Marshall ahead 22-14, as Leftwich was
6-of-7 for 54 yards during the 56-yard drive.
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Marshall's Byron Leftwich connects with Darius Watts for a 77-yard TD.: avi 916 k
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Maurice Hines intercepts the Deontey Kenner pass and makes a dazzling return.: avi 1846 k
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Cincinnati's DeMarco McCleskey scores two first-half short-yardage TDs.: avi 1269 k
Real 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Franklin Wallace scores from 4 yards out.: avi 1367 k
Real 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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