Sept. 11, 2010
Marshall Falls to No. 22 West Virginia In Overtime, 24-21
Mountaineers Outlast Thundering Herd
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The 22nd-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0) overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie Marshall (0-2) with 12 seconds left and eventually win the Fifth Annual “Friends of Coal Bowl” in overtime, 24-21, in front of a record-setting 41,382 fans at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
In the opening quarter, Marshall running back Martin Ward took a handoff on the third play from scrimmage and bounced outside for a 55-yard run. The career-long burst down the right sideline by Ward set up an 8-yard pitch-and-catch from Brian Anderson to Herd wideout Antavious Wilson two players later to cap off a quick scoring strike. The drive took just 2:17 off the clock, covering 80 yards on six plays.
WVU responded right back on its first possession of the contest at the 7:31 mark, thanks to a 34-yard field goal off the foot of kicker Tyler Bitancurt.
Both squads were kept off the scoreboard until MU needed just one play to add another touchdown with 11:02 left in the first half. WVU attempted to keep the chains moving on the MU 8-yard line with a fourth-and-one attempt, but the Herd defense stuffed Ryan Clarke to take over on downs.
After a false start penalty, Anderson launched a pass from the Herd endzone to receiver Aaron Dobson at midfield who then raced the rest the way untouched for a 96-yard touchdown to take a 14-3 lead.
The 96-yard reception was the second longest in program history. The school record was set in 1991, when Todd Donnan hit 2010 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Troy Brown with a 99-yard score against VMI.
WVU opened the second half with a 64-yard drive, keyed by a Noel Devine 17-yard rush, but was unable to get in the endzone, as the Mountaineers settled for a 33-yard field goal.
Later in the third stanza, Johnny Jones blocked a 45-yard field goal try by WVU to gain even more momentum. The blocked kick was his second of the season and sixth of his career.
Following the rejected 3-point try, Anderson fired his third touchdown of the evening on a 12-yard strike to Wilson, his second of the night and his first career multi-score game. The scoring drive was the third of the night over less than three minutes.
After being kept out of the endzone, WVU finally tallied a touchdown when running back Noel Devine scampered left and dashed in for 4-yard score to put the Mountaineers within a single possession, with the Herd still clenching to a 21-13 cushion with 5:12 left in the contest.
Kase Whitehead pinned WVU back at their own 2-yard line as the visitors had one last chance to tie the game. WVU embarked on a 15-play, 98-yard drive, capped off with a 5-yard touchdown play from Geno Smith to Will Johnson in the back right corner of the endzone with 12 seconds remaining. Jock Sanders snagged the two-point conversion pass, sending the game to overtime.
In overtime action, the Mountaineers took possession first. After giving up a first down, the MU defense would bend but not break, as Bitancurt kicked a 20-yarder to hold a three-point edge.
The Marshall offense was also held to a field goal attempt, but Tyler Walker was unable to connect on the 39-yard attempt, securing the victory for the visiting Mountaineers.
Anderson finished the night going an efficient 20-for-29 for 229 yards and tied a career-high with three touchdowns. Dobson hauled in four catches for 120 yards and a score, while Wilson caught two passes for scores.
Ward led the ground attack, rushing 11 times for 101 yards for his second career game of 100-or-more yards.
Leading the way for WVU was running back Noel Devine. The senior rushed for a game-high 112 yards and also caught ten balls for 62 yards. Devine rushed for a score in the fourth quarter. Mountaineer QB Geno Smith finished the game 32-of-45 for 316 yards and a score.
The Herd travels next week to Bowling Green to play the Falcons at 7 p.m.
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Marshall Falls to No. 22 West Virginia In Overtime, 24-21
Mountaineers Outlast Thundering Herd
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
Huntington, WV (HNN) – The 22nd-ranked West Virginia Mountaineers (2-0) overcame a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to tie Marshall (0-2) with 12 seconds left and eventually win the Fifth Annual “Friends of Coal Bowl” in overtime, 24-21, in front of a record-setting 41,382 fans at the Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
In the opening quarter, Marshall running back Martin Ward took a handoff on the third play from scrimmage and bounced outside for a 55-yard run. The career-long burst down the right sideline by Ward set up an 8-yard pitch-and-catch from Brian Anderson to Herd wideout Antavious Wilson two players later to cap off a quick scoring strike. The drive took just 2:17 off the clock, covering 80 yards on six plays.
WVU responded right back on its first possession of the contest at the 7:31 mark, thanks to a 34-yard field goal off the foot of kicker Tyler Bitancurt.
Both squads were kept off the scoreboard until MU needed just one play to add another touchdown with 11:02 left in the first half. WVU attempted to keep the chains moving on the MU 8-yard line with a fourth-and-one attempt, but the Herd defense stuffed Ryan Clarke to take over on downs.
After a false start penalty, Anderson launched a pass from the Herd endzone to receiver Aaron Dobson at midfield who then raced the rest the way untouched for a 96-yard touchdown to take a 14-3 lead.
The 96-yard reception was the second longest in program history. The school record was set in 1991, when Todd Donnan hit 2010 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Troy Brown with a 99-yard score against VMI.
WVU opened the second half with a 64-yard drive, keyed by a Noel Devine 17-yard rush, but was unable to get in the endzone, as the Mountaineers settled for a 33-yard field goal.
Later in the third stanza, Johnny Jones blocked a 45-yard field goal try by WVU to gain even more momentum. The blocked kick was his second of the season and sixth of his career.
Following the rejected 3-point try, Anderson fired his third touchdown of the evening on a 12-yard strike to Wilson, his second of the night and his first career multi-score game. The scoring drive was the third of the night over less than three minutes.
After being kept out of the endzone, WVU finally tallied a touchdown when running back Noel Devine scampered left and dashed in for 4-yard score to put the Mountaineers within a single possession, with the Herd still clenching to a 21-13 cushion with 5:12 left in the contest.
Kase Whitehead pinned WVU back at their own 2-yard line as the visitors had one last chance to tie the game. WVU embarked on a 15-play, 98-yard drive, capped off with a 5-yard touchdown play from Geno Smith to Will Johnson in the back right corner of the endzone with 12 seconds remaining. Jock Sanders snagged the two-point conversion pass, sending the game to overtime.
In overtime action, the Mountaineers took possession first. After giving up a first down, the MU defense would bend but not break, as Bitancurt kicked a 20-yarder to hold a three-point edge.
The Marshall offense was also held to a field goal attempt, but Tyler Walker was unable to connect on the 39-yard attempt, securing the victory for the visiting Mountaineers.
Anderson finished the night going an efficient 20-for-29 for 229 yards and tied a career-high with three touchdowns. Dobson hauled in four catches for 120 yards and a score, while Wilson caught two passes for scores.
Ward led the ground attack, rushing 11 times for 101 yards for his second career game of 100-or-more yards.
Leading the way for WVU was running back Noel Devine. The senior rushed for a game-high 112 yards and also caught ten balls for 62 yards. Devine rushed for a score in the fourth quarter. Mountaineer QB Geno Smith finished the game 32-of-45 for 316 yards and a score.
The Herd travels next week to Bowling Green to play the Falcons at 7 p.m.
www.HerdZone.com
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