Marshall Knows Way to Motor City Bowl

This year, it was Byron Leftwich’s turn to lead Marshall to a comeback victory over Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference championship game.

Leftwich’s 29-yard pass play to John Cooper for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter lifted the Thundering Herd to a 19-14 victory Saturday at Huntington, W.Va., and its fourth consecutive berth in the Motor City Bowl.

The victory by Marshall (7-5) means the MAC teams with the two best records--Western Michigan (9-3) and Toledo (10-1)--likely will be shut out of a bowl game. The Thundering Herd will play Conference USA runner-up Cincinnati (7-4) in the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 27 in Pontiac, Mich.

Western Michigan was seeking its first bowl berth in 12 years. It also lost to Marshall in the MAC championship game last year when Chad Pennington brought the Thundering Herd from 23 points down in the second half for a 34-30 win.

On Saturday, Western Michigan was shut out in the first half for the first time this season, but Jeff Welsh threw two touchdown passes to give the Broncos a 14-13 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Leftwich then drove Marshall 80 yards in eight plays. He completed six of seven passes--including the go-ahead score to Cooper, who took a pass down the right sideline and raced to the end zone untouched with six minutes remaining.

Welsh threw interceptions on Western Michigan’s final two possessions.

The win was even sweeter for Leftwich, the league’s passing and total offense leader who failed to make any of the all-conference squads.

“I consider myself a championship quarterback. The opportunity was there for us to pull it out, and I was glad I was able to help out,” Leftwich said.

The Thundering Herd started the season 2-4, including blowout losses to Western Michigan and Toledo, before winning the East Division on a tiebreaker over Ohio.

“Halftime at Toledo, we hit rock bottom,” Marshall Coach Bob Pruett said. “Ever since then, we’ve banded together and started playing together.”

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In the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game at Birmingham, Ala., Calvin Spears’ 47-yard interception return for a fourth-quarter touchdown lifted Grambling (10-2) to a 14-6 victory over Alabama A&M; (7-5). Grambling had minus-12 rushing.

NCAA PLAYOFFS

DIVISION I-AA: Drew Miller passed for 381 yards and three touchdowns to lead Montana (12-1) to a 34-20 victory over Richmond (10-3) at Missoula, Mont., in the quarterfinals. Montana will play Appalachian State (10-3)--a 17-14 winner over Western Kentucky (11-2)--next Saturday. Delaware (12-1) scored 28 points off turnovers in a 47-22 victory over Lehigh (12-1) at Newark, Del., to advance to the other semifinal against defending champion Georgia Southern (11-2)--a 48-20 winner over Hofstra (9-4) at Statesboro, Ga.

DIVISION II: Eric Miller passed for 385 yards and five touchdowns for Bloomsburg (Pa.) in a 58-48 victory at UC Davis (12-1) to reach next Saturday’s championship game in Florence, Ala., against Delta (Miss.) State (13-1)--a 34-16 winner over North Dakota State (12-2) at Cleveland, Miss.