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MARSHALL SPORTS
Herd has a productive scrimmage
HUNTINGTON-- Comfortable operating a new offense at a hurried pace, Mark Cann efficiently, if not spectacularly, enjoyed a productive outing.
Questioned for much of preseason camp, offensive linemen protected Cann and other quarterbacks. Running lanes also were pried open, leading to 227 rushing yards.
Tailback Darius Marshall provided the signature highlight, muscling through a C.J. Spillman tackle attempt and sprinting 49 yards to the end zone.
Overall, Marshall University’s football scrimmage Saturday featured an offensive counterpunch after being bullied for much of preseason camp.
“In practice we get in different situations, but today we were actually first down and driving the ball,” said Cann, who completed 11 of 16 passes for 67 yards. “And that’s obviously game-like and that was good for us.”
Moments earlier, Cann’s head coach said essentially the same.
“We were finally playing football,” Mark Snyder said. “You guys come to practice every day; you see segments. You don’t see first, second, third down, moving the chains, game plans, strategy.
“And again, we didn’t show hardly anything of who we’re going to be today on either side of the ball. But I thought they executed like expected. I was pleased.”
Brian Anderson threw for 105 yards on 14-of-20 passing, and Wesley Beardain connected on one of three attempts for 11 yards (Jonathan Garner was sidelined because of a hand injury).
The Green team totaled 410 yards of offense en route to a 55-33 fully-officiated jersey scrimmage victory.
Redshirt freshman Terrell Edwards led all rushers with 82 yards on 17 carries, including a 3-yard touchdown. Cann, Marshall and true freshman Jordan Taylor added goal line scoring runs.
True freshman Martin Ward presumably slept well Saturday night after taking 14 handoffs for 57 yards and adding 36 yards on four receptions.
“My coach (Jared Smith) said, ‘be ready’,” Ward said. “So you look for the unexpected and the unexpected was I got a lot of carries.
“I had to get ready and it showed. I had to get my wind up.”
Ward’s wind was tested midway through the 94-play scrimmage, carrying five consecutive times for 25 yards, moving the chains eight more yards on a pass from Cann and then rushing for four yards on the next play.
“I was looking to the sideline but I was like, ‘I can’t give up’,” Ward said of the seven-play stretch. “As long as I hold onto the ball and get positive yards, I’m good. That’s what I was thinking.
“Don’t give up and don’t let them know you’re tired, because they will take advantage.”
Sophomore wide receiver Bryant Milligan continued his stellar camp with four catches for 37 yards. E.J. Wynn’s 27-yard reception was the scrimmage’s longest pass play.
“It was real big for the offense to do well,” Milligan said. “The last couple of years the defense has bullied us. It’s good to get this confidence and continuity for our team.”
