ORLANDO, Fla. — One loss led to another.

Marshall’s depth-challenged offensive line had already reached the breaking point with injuries to Ryan Tillman and Brandon Campbell.

But when dependable center Chad Schofield got hurt and had to leave the game late in the fourth quarter against UCF, it was the final injury.

Little-used Landis Provancha, who started in place of Tillman at left guard, had to switch to center.

The problem is Provancha hadn’t made a snap in a game all season.

The inexperience showed on Provancha’s second snap, which turned into a bad center/quarterback exchange with Brian Anderson.

The junior quarterback tried to make the best of the broken play, improvising by running a keeper for a would-be first down.

But just before hitting the turf, UCF defensive end Chris Miller knocked the ball from Anderson’s grasp and Knights’ cornerback Josh Robinson recovered the fumble with 2:12 remaining.

It was the play of the game.

Eight plays later, UCF quarterback Brett Hodges completed a 1-yard touchdown pass to Rocky

Ross with 23 seconds remaining to give the Knights a shocking come-from-behind, 21-20, win over a stunned Marshall.The bottom line is the offensive line had just one more injury than Marshall could survive.

SEASON LOW: Marshall star running back Darius Marshall was held to a season-low 80 yards on 28 carries.
The junior’s previous low was 82 yards in a loss to West Virginia University.
Marshall entered the game as the second-leading rusher in the country.

OFFENSIVE LINE WOES: Tillman, who has an injured right knee, didn’t even make the trip to Orlando.
And although Campbell didn’t start, he did play the entire second quarter at left tackle.
C.J. Wood started in Campbell’s place and played most of the game.
As a result, the mix-and-match quality of Marshall’s offensive line showed at times. Anderson was sacked four times and UCF had a total of eight tackles for loss.

SLATE STILL GREAT: Although star tight end Cody Slate didn’t touch the ball in the second half, he still produced an outstanding performance.
The senior caught five passes for 80 yards in the first half, including a 47-yard bomb. He also caught a 4-yard touchdown pass which was a landmark reception.That TD catch was the 23rd of Slate’s career, tying him for fifth place on Marshall’s career touchdown reception list with Josh Davis and Tim Martin.

STRANGE BUT TRUE: Marshall wide receiver Wayne Bonner — of all players — made his defensive debut at the end of the first half.
With a “Hail Mary” pass obviously in the offing from UCF quarterback Brett Hodges, the 6-foot-4 Bonner was inserted into Marshall’s secondary in the event of a jump ball.

GAME WEEK: There will be a Marshall football game this week, after all.
Although the Herd has a bye week, selected Marshall players will take on Hargrave Military School’s squad in their annual sub-varsity game at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Edwards Stadium.
This is the third straight year Marshall has hosted Hargrave for a sub-varsity game.

STILL CALLING SIGNALS: Despite the off-week, the Huntington Quarterback Club still will hold its weekly meeting Tuesday at the Pullman Plaza Hotel.
Besides Herd head coach Mark Snyder discussing the UCF game, Randy Burnside will serve as guest speaker. Burnside is Marshall’s assistant athletic director in charge of media relations.
Doors will open at 11 a.m.
 

National Video