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MARSHALL SPORTS
Marshall falls in last minute
Marshall quarterback Brian Anderson, left, walks off the field after taking a sack on the final play as the Central Florida team celebrates at the end of the game in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. UCF won 21-20.
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ORLANDO, Fla. — Ideal opportunity escaped Marshall University’s football program Sunday night.
Playing before a national television audience on ESPN and staring at postseason eligibility, the Thundering Herd again fell short against UCF, this time under the most frustrating of circumstances.
Leading by six points with the ball and less than three minutes remaining, quarterback BrianAnderson fumbled away possession at Marshall’s 30-yard line. One play after UCF converted a third down and 10 on an 18-yard completion to Kamar Aiken, quarterback Brett Hodges tossed a 1-yard touchdown to Rocky Ross with 23 seconds remaining, completing a dramatic 21-20 Knights comeback victory before a crowd of 35,676 at Bright House Networks Stadium.
Marshall’s unlikely setback squelched an opportunity to tie East Carolina atop Conference USA’s East Division standings and secure a needed sixth victory.
The Thundering Herd (5-4, 3-2) led throughout, owning a 20-7 second half advantage and surrendered what would have been a signature road win.
“We felt like we dominated the game — proud of that group in there,” Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said. “Just had some misfortune coming down at the end that cost us the football game.”
Starting center Chad Schofield was injured late, shifting guard Landis Provancha over. His second snap wasn’t cleanly exchanged with Anderson, timing was thrown off on a handoff to Darius
Marshall and Anderson tucked and ran. Anderson then fumbled at the Marshall 30 with 2:12 remaining, stripped by defensive end Bruce Miller and covered by cornerback Josh Robinson.
“We all feel like we played well enough to win the game,” Anderson said. “The end we weren’t able to pull it off.
“I just kind of bobbled the snap, waiting to hand off the ball to Darius. I turned upfield and unfortunately I wasn’t able to hold onto it.
“It’s difficult (losing Schofield), but it’s something you have to deal with if he goes down. It’s my fault.”
Having previously won at Memphis and Tulane, Marshall appeared to have shaken road woes spanning four seasons. Sunday night proved a frustrating flashback, however. UCF (5-3, 3-2) continually pressured Anderson and converted opportunistic offensive plays.
“It is huge for us, especially going in this weekend against Texas and three big conference games after that,” Miller said. “That is a great football team we just beat.”
Marshall dictated throughout but didn’t close in arguably the most disappointing loss of head coach Mark Snyder’s five-season tenure.
“This is my worst (loss) of my career, high school. ... anything,” Thundering Herd linebacker Mario Harvey said. “We just came up on the wrong end of the stick.”
Darius Marshall was limited to a season-low 80 yards on 28 carries, but exceed 1,000 rushing yards for the second straight season. Tight end Cody Slate, among 21 Florida natives dotting the Herd roster, produced repeated big plays, including a 4-yard touchdown reception in a game controlled by the Herd for three and a half quarters.
Craig Ratanamorn’s 21-yard field goal extended a second half lead to 20-7. The senior remained perfect this season, kicking true on his 10th field goal in as many attempts.
But, UCF reached end zone twice in the final 7:51 in a surreal series of play.
“It was real,” Ratanamorn said in disagreement.
Moments after Ratanamorn’s second field goal, redshirt freshman John Youboty sacked Hodges on the third quarter’s final play, stifling a drive inside Herd territory.
UCF hardly allowed for a comfortable Sunday night victory, however. Brynn Harvey’s 2-yard touchdown run, two plays after Hodges fired 21 yards to Ross on fourth down and 7. Harvey sprinted around left end, trimming the deficit to 20-14 with 7:51 remaining.
Following a Herd three and out, UCF marched to Marshall’s 19-yard line, but the Knights didn’t convert on fourth down when a Hodges pass to A.J. Guyton sailed out of bounds.
“We’re all in this and adversity struck,” Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry said.
An anticipated defensive slugfest played out just as that from the opening kickoff. Beyond Marshall receiver Chuck Walker dropping an otherwise well-executed flea flicker in the end zone and UCF true freshman cornerback Josh Robinson intercepting Anderson in the same end zone, the opening quarter largely was non-descript.
UCF totaled five tackles for loss in a 15-minute span that featured seven possessions.
Marshall’s No. 1 playmaking pass-catcher, Slate, snapped the malaise, sprinting past one defensive back and dragging another on a 47-yard completion. Two plays later, Slate again found open space on a 4-yard touchdown. Anderson rolled left and found Slate for the tight end’s 23rd career touchdown, tying the senior with Josh Davis and Tim Martin for fifth all-time in Marshall receiving TDs.
UCF immediately answered, driving 72 yards on eight plays to knot the score. Facing fourth down and one from Marshall’s 4-yard line, UCF head coach George O’Leary called a timeout. The resulting play produced a perfectly executed play-action scoring pass from Hodges to Aiken.
A third consecutive score ensued from what had been a duel of three and outs. Spurred by a 40-yard Anderson-to-Lee Smith connection over the middle, Marshall regained the advantage on Ratanamorn’s 30-yard field goal.
UCF then ventured into Marshall territory, but a significant, and odd, momentum shifter followed. UCF kicker Nick Cattoi scalded a 48-yard field goal attempt, and Ashton Hall returned the floated the kick 68 yards to the Knights’ 28 yard line.
Five plays later, Darius Marshall nicely read a Slate block off left tackle and easily scored from 3 yards, providing a 17-7 halftime advantage.
Anderson completed 13 of 28 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown against one interception. He was sacked four times.
Hodges threw for 342 yards and two scores on 23-of-45 passing.
Marshall has an open date coming up before a Nov. 14 home game with East Division rivalSouthern Miss. Kickoff between Marshall and Southern Miss (5-4, 3-2) is 4:30 p.m. at Edwards Stadium.
