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by THAD SMITH and KIRK PAGE
reporters
The Thundering Herd vies for its fifth straight Mid-American Conference
Championship tonight in Toledo, Ohio, against MAC West Division
Champion Toledo.
The game is nationally televised on ESPN at 7 p.m. from The Glass
Bowl. The Herd (10-1) will be trying to avenge a 42-0 drumming last
season at the hands of the Rockets.
Both Toledo and Marshall have already accepted Bowl bids, unlike
previous meetings in 1997 and 1998, where the winner was the only
team issued a bowl bid.
The Rockets have accepted a bid to play in the Motor City Bowl
in Detroit, Mich., while Marshall travels south to the GMAC Bowl
in Mobile, Ala.
Unlike the prior meetings, the game will be played on the road
at the Glass Bowl. The Thundering Herd whipped the Rockets 34-14
in 1997 and brought home the trophy in 1998 with a narrow 23-17
victory.
Toledo (8-2) has been solid at home. The Rockets have won 13 straight
games at the Glass Bowl, including a 42-0 shutout of the Herd last
season.
"Last year doesn't make a hill of beans," Marshall coach
Bob Pruett said. "We were the champs, maybe they'll remember
that."
Since Pruett's arrival in 1996, Marshall has played for 15 championships
including five MAC East Division titles, four MAC championships,
one Southern Conference title, a Division I-AA national crown and
four bowl titles -- only coming away empty-handed once.
"Bowl games are just gravy," Pruett said. "Playing
for championships are better than any bowl game."
The Herd, ranked No. 20 in the latest AP Poll and No. 18 in the
ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, won a 38-24 decision over Youngstown
State last Saturday, while Toledo is coming off a 56-21 thrashing
at the hands of rival Bowling Green.
Toledo brings a highly-touted ground attack with First Team All-MAC
running back Chester Taylor and Second Team All-MAC quarterback
Tavares Bolden.
Taylor has rushed for 1,242 yards on 236 attempts and averages
124.2 yards-per-game this season. The standout running back is second
all-time in the MAC for career rushing yards.
Bolden boasts a strong arm with the ability to run as well. He
has completed 184 of 266 passes for 2,156 yards and 12 touchdowns
this season. He has also rushed for three more and caught another.
Pruett said a win lies in the hands of the defense.
"We've got to tackle better than we've been tackling,"
he said. "[We've] got to play with great emotion. Hopefully,
we can do a better job of that."
The Marshall defense is anchored by MAC Defensive Player of the
Year linebacker Max Yates, who has recorded 146 tackles this season.
Defensive end Ralph Street and safety Chris Crocker joined Yates
on the defensive All-MAC First Team.
The Thundering Herd offense certainly hasnŐt had any trouble putting
up the points this season. Quarterback Byron Leftwich is the top
active passing leader in the MAC with 7,214 yards in his three-year
career. He has thrown for 34 touchdowns, with an average of 337
ypg.
Leftwich's No.1 go to guy is sophomore receiver Darius Watts,
who leads the nation with 18 touchdown receptions. Watts has 1,316
yards this season with 82 catches.
Wide-receivers Josh Davis and Denero Marriott complete the receiving
corps for the Herd. Davis and Marriott have combined for 10 touchdowns
and more than 1,000 yards.
Pruett thinks stopping the Rockets running game is crucial.
"The team who runs the ball well and stops the run, usually
ends up with the upper-hand," he said.
The Marshall offensive line has made strides all season. Senior
Steve Scuillo and sophomore Nate McPeek have been major contributors.
Scuillo and McPeek will carry the burden of a strong Toledo pass-rushing
team, which reeked havoc on Marshall in last yearŐs matchup.
"The line has improved immensely and they'll need to play
well," Pruett said.
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