Leftwich Looks Like Another Top Player

Marshall showed that there’s life after Randy Moss and Chad Pennington.

The Thundering Herd defeated Cincinnati, 25-14, Wednesday in the Motor City Bowl in front of 26,018 fans at the Silverdome. The victory gave Marshall a three-game winning streak in the bowl after losing the inaugural game in 1997.

“I hope you never get tired of us coming,” Marshall Coach Bob Pruett said.

Marshall (8-5) won six of its last seven games in what was expected to be a rebuilding year after Pennington graduated. Moss, who played for the Thundering Herd for two years, is in his third NFL season.

“One guy don’t make a football team,” Pruett said. “Certainly, we’ve had some great players here. But we’ve won 58 games in five years. One or two guys don’t do that.”

Marshall may not have any big-name players now, but it thinks it will have one in sophomore quarterback Byron Leftwich.

Leftwich threw a 77-yard touchdown pass on the fourth play of the game and rushed for a touchdown, making up for two turnovers in the second quarter. Leftwich completed 17 of 30 passes for 221 yards and was selected as the game’s most valuable player.

“I always felt that I was a good quarterback and the last two years I’ve been behind a great one in Chad,” Leftwich said. “I just had to wait my turn and get a chance. I think today I really showed what I could do, and I am proud to lead a continually proud line of Marshall quarterbacks.”

Cincinnati (7-5), which won its last four regular-season games, played in only its second bowl since 1951. Deontey Kenner completed 19 of 39 passes for 189 yards with two interceptions.

DeMarco McCleskey rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns.

Marshall scored touchdowns on its first two drives of the second half after Cincinnati went three-and-out on consecutive possessions.

The Thundering Herd sealed the victory on a 25-yard field goal by J.R. Jenkins with 43 seconds left.