GREENVILLE, N.C. -- This game needed one big Heimlich Maneuver.

Choke, choke, choke.

That was the story of a game that, at times, neither team seemed to want to win.

It was merely a matter of which team wasn't going to gag last.

That turned out to be East Carolina, which beat Marshall, 19-16, in overtime Saturday.

The Pirates won the game when place-kicker Ben Hartman drilled a game-winning 27-yard field goal in overtime.

But with three seconds remaining in regulation, Hartman choked on a 43-yard field goal, hooking the potential game-winner wide left.

Moments earlier, East Carolina punter Matt Dodge choked on a crucial punt, shanking it only 16 yards downfield. That set up a 33-yard touchdown pass from Marshall's Mark Cann to Cody Slate, which led to overtime.

Before that, Marshall place-kicker Craig Ratanamorn choked on a "gimme" 26-yard field goal attempt pushing it wide right.

Then, the junior choked on an extra-point attempt following Slate's 7-yard TD reception. This time he clanged it off the right upright.

And Marshall head coach Mark Snyder had seen enough.

"He pushed the ball right and pushed the ball right all week in practice," said Snyder. "Missing an extra point was enough."

So, walk-on true freshman Tyler Warner did the remainder of Marshall's kicking, connecting on an extra point and missing a 43-yard field goal in overtime.

And now what? What will Snyder do about his struggling kicking game heading into Marshall's Homecoming game against UCF at 4:30 p.m. Saturday?

"I don't know," he said. "I'm not a kicking coach. Just go out and kick balls all week, I guess."

NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT: Apparently, Marshall has developed a grass allergy.

Achoo!

The loss to East Carolina on Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium's natural surface was Marshall's third straight loss on grass fields.

The last time Marshall had played on grass was at Houston's Robertson Stadium on Nov. 17, 2007. ... nearly a year ago. Marshall lost that game, 35-28.

Previously in the '07 season, the Herd had lost to UCF at Brighthouse Networks Stadium, 47-13.

Is there some Benadryl in the house?

NO EXCUSES: Marshall star tight end Cody Slate produced two of the Herd's highlights, but he refused to supply any alibis.

For instance, ask Slate about the missed field goal and missed extra point.

"We had plenty of opportunities after that," he insisted.

And losing games to both UAB and East Carolina by a total of only five points because of errant kicking?

"Those games shouldn't have come down to field goals," insisted Slate. "We should have had touchdowns."

ONE DISTINCTION: The third quarter belonged to East Carolina's defense.

At least, it did.

When Marshall's Slate caught a 7-yard touchdown pass in the third period it was the first points the Pirates had allowed in the third quarter since Sept. 27, a span of four games.

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