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• Tunnel vision could serve Herd well in off week

HUNTINGTON -- At times, numbers indeed lie, or at least fib a bit.

UCF converted just five of 18 third downs against Marshall University, suggesting the Thundering Herd did the job on getting off the field. Repeated third and long conversions when it mattered, along with UCF's fourth down success, led to a confounding 21-20 Marshall football defeat Sunday night in Orlando.

Trailing 20-7, UCF kicked off the fourth quarter with a seven-play, 43-yard scoring drive. Included was a 21-yard Brett Hodges' pass to Rocky Ross on fourth down and seven, preceding Brynn Harvey's 2-yard touchdown run.

A Herd three and out ensued, and UCF wasted little time returning to Marshall territory. Here we go again was the feeling when the Knights facing third and nine from Marshall's 18-yard line.

This time Hodges' pass to A.J. Guyton sailed incomplete. With less than three minutes remaining and trailing 20-14, veteran UCF head coach George O'Leary dismissed the notion of a field goal. His Knights led the nation on fourth down conversions, succeeding on each their six previous attempts.

Hodges again fired in Guyton's direction, but the overthrow returned possession to Marshall with 2:40 -- victory all but secured.

Of course, fans know the rest of a story. A bobbled snap and ensuing fumble just 28 seconds later resulted in good fortune for UCF, taking over at the Herd's 30.

The Herd forced a fourth and one, but after a time out, Hodges gained that yard on a keeper. Inside of a minute remained, and the Knights were staring at third and 10 from the 20.

Hodges, who threw for 342 yards, calmly found Kamar Aiken over the middle for 19 yards. One play later, Hodges rolled right and found Ross wide open in the end zone. An extra point kick later, and suddenly Marshall was on the wrong end of a game it controlled for three quarters.

Marshall now has the week off to work on miscues, including third down defense. Marshall (5-4, 3-2 Conference USA) returns to play Nov. 14 against Southern Miss (5-4, 3-2 C-USA). Kickoff at Edwards Stadium is 4:30 p.m.

"It's real frustrating," Herd cornerback DeQuan Bembry said. "On third down, that's the down to get off the field, especially on third and long. We just have to regroup this week and the week after.

"That really hurts on fourth and long or fourth and whatever. We just have to get back at it."

Overall, Marshall opponents have converted 42 percent of third downs (55 of 132) and 12 of 20 fourth downs (60 percent).

Especially frustrating against UCF were third down blitzes that nearly resulted in sacks but instead kept Marshall defenders on the field.

"He found an open spot," Marshall linebacker Mario Harvey said. "We got good pressure on the quarterback and he had good poise and patience.

"He found the right man, the open man."

Phelan M. Ebenhack/For The Herald-Dispatch

Marshall's Michael Janac, right, and quarterback Brian Anderson leave the field after the game against Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009. UCF won 21-20.

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