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Central Florida shuts down Thundering Herd, 47-13
Central Florida receiver Rocky Ross drags Marshall defensive back C.J. Spillman for a couple of yards after hauling in a Kyle Israel pass Saturday, November 3, 2007, at Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- Losing is frustrating enough without the redundancy factor.
Marshall University football's broken record played again Saturday, with a stagnant first quarter parlaying into defeat. The University of Central Florida led 10-0 after the opening period, extended the advantage to 24 points at halftime and cruised to a 47-13 Homecoming victory before a record Bright House Networks Stadium crowd of 46,103.
Marshall (1-8, 1-4 Conference USA) never threatened after allowing a short field on the opening kickoff. UCF (6-3, 4-1) quickly marched to the end zone and established control on a sun-splashed afternoon.
UCF tailback Kevin Smith, the nation's No. 2 rusher, was dominant on the perimeter and between the tackles, totaling 188 yards on 29 carries, including an 87-yard touchdown burst. Overall, the Knights outrushed Marshall, 269 yards to 88 yards.
"We are not going to play soft football around here," Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder vowed.
So, did Marshall play soft on Saturday?
"I don't know," Snyder said. "What I do know is this -- they played more physically than we did, a lot more physically."
Beyond Chubb Small's 45-yard fourth quarterback touchdown run, the Herd netted just 46 rushing yards on 25 attempts.
Marshall quarterback Bernard Morris was sacked six times and intercepted twice. Counterpart Kyle Israel was not dropped while completing 14 of 21 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
"That's not who I am," Snyder said. "That's what I just told my team. That's not who we're going to be here. That's not who we're going to be.
"It hurts really bad. It hurts as bad as the loss."
The season-long burden that is slow starts again bit the Thundering Herd. Deferring after winning the coin toss, Marshall couldn't stop UCF on three straight third downs. Israel completed two third down tosses and a third was flagged for defensive pass interference (on J.J. Johnson), providing a first and goal at the 1.
Smith bulled in from there and the Golden Knights led 7-0 less than five minutes in. UCF wasted little time invading Marshall territory on possession No. 2, ending with Michael Torres' 48-yard field goal and 10-0 advantage.
Fourth down was the story of Drive No. 3. Israel advanced a yard on fourth and inches on his side of the 50, setting up Torres' 21-yard field goal with 12:43 remaining in the first half.
UCF led 13-0 and for the ninth time in nine games, Marshall failed to the find the end zone in the first quarter. The Herd has been outscored 78-8 in the opening 15 minutes this season.
"We have to start fast and finish the football game," said Morris, who threw for 239 yards on 18-of-31 passing.
Anthony Binswanger appeared to sway momentum a bit, curling a 51-yard punt inside UCF's 1-yard line. Three plays later, Smith delivered a severe body blow, starting left, cutting right and sprinting through Marshall's defense for an 87-yard touchdown.
The longest scoring run in school history expanded the margin to 20-0.
Marshall's previous possession ended after failing to gain 1 yard on second and third downs.
"That definitely hurt," Thundering Herd tight end Cody Slate said. "Second and 1, we've got to be able to convert that."
Binswanger's 21-yard field goal was the first Herd answer, but UCF quickly drove downfield, capped by Israel's 23-yard knockout touchdown toss to Brian Watters.
UCF achieved near perfect symmetry en route to its 27-3 halftime lead. Smith rushed for 158 yards and a pair of scores and Israel added 121 yards and a score on 10-of-14 passing. Watters doubled his season receptions total with four first half catches.
Forty-four Knights offensive plays were countered by Marshall's 23 at halftime. Another opportunity at a signature victory essentially was finished before the Homecoming queen was crowned.
Binswanger added a 38-yard second half field goal and Marshall first reached the end zone on Chubb Small's 45-yard run with 11:23 remaining. UCF countered in the second half with Watters' 30-yard catch-and-run -- hurdling cornerback Zearrick Matthews along the way -- Phillip Smith's 1-yard scoring run and Darin Baldwin's 37-yard interception return.
Because of UCF's run-first mentality, Snyder said he believed his team very much was in the game throughout the early struggles. Dominance along the line of scrimmage never allowed a meaningful counterpunch.
"But credit their defense," Snyder said. "They whipped our butt up front. Philosophically, when you're playing a team like this (and) you're down 10, 13, 14 points you still feel like you're in the game.
This week's task is no easier with East Division leader East Carolina (6-4, 5-1), coming off a 56-40 win at Memphis, visiting Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
"We're looking at East Carolina and East Carolina only," Snyder said. "I've already shifted my focus. And we need to get some things corrected within us too."
