Marshall, Leftwich Put Away Toledo

A month’s worth of limping on a sore shin didn’t deter Byron Leftwich, and neither did getting flattened by Toledo’s David Gardner.

Leftwich got up from the third-quarter hit to throw two late touchdowns, including a 40-yarder to Darius Watts with 49 seconds left, as Marshall beat Toledo, 49-45, Saturday in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Huntington, W.Va.

Marshall (10-2) has won five MAC titles since it rejoined the league six seasons ago.

The Thundering Herd avoided losing at home for only the second time since Bob Pruett became coach in 1996. Marshall atoned for a loss at Toledo in last year’s championship game, in which the Rockets overcame a 23-0 deficit to win, 41-36.

“Last year, after we lost we all had a sick feeling,” Leftwich said. “This year, we couldn’t let them come in here and make us feel like that again.”

Leftwich completed 32 of 42 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns to overshadow the four rushing touchdowns by Toledo redshirt freshman Trinity Dawson, who finished with a career-high 130 yards.

Leftwich hurt his left shin on Nov. 2. On Saturday, he showed his toughness as Toledo made good on its promise to blitz him often.

Gardner thought his hit, which came after an interception by Brandon Hefflin, was legal. But it came just after the whistle, prompting a personal-foul penalty and setting off a fight. Marshall lineman Steve Peretta went after Gardner, and Toledo lineman Lantz Jeudy retaliated against Peretta.

Several Toledo players rushed onto the field, and players from both teams exchanged shoves before order was restored. Peretta and Jeudy were ejected.

“He hit me high, so honestly, it wasn’t dirty,” Leftwich said. “It was unfortunate that the fight may have taken something away from the game.”

Both teams had secured bowl bids before Saturday. Marshall will head to the GMAC Bowl on Dec. 18 in Mobile, Ala., and Toledo (9-4) will play in the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 26 in Detroit.

DIVISION I-AA PLAYOFFS

Brett Gordon completed 26 of 30 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns, leading Villanova (11-3) to a 24-10 victory over Fordham (10-3) in a quarterfinal game at Villanova, Pa.... Peter Martinez kicked a 25-yard field goal with 40 seconds left as Western Kentucky (10-3) rallied for 17 fourth-quarter points in a 31-28 victory over Western Illinois (11-2) at Macomb, Ill.... Chaz Williams had his 10th straight 100-yard rushing game with 106 yards and two touchdowns as Georgia Southern (11-2) rolled to a 31-7 victory over Maine (11-3) at Statesboro, Ga.... Ryan Corcoran threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns to help McNeese State (12-1) rally for a 24-20 victory over Montana (11-3) at Lake Charles, La.

DIVISION II PLAYOFFS

Buster Faulkner passed for 195 yards and two touchdowns to lead Valdosta State (14-0) into the championship game after a 21-12 semifinal victory over Texas A&M; Kingsville (10-3) at Valdosta, Ga.... Curt Anes threw four touchdown passes to David Kircus, and Grand Valley State (13-0) had nine sacks in a 44-7 rout of Northern Colorado (12-2) at Allendale, Mich.

DIVISION III PLAYOFFS

Kent Crowley rushed for 167 yards and Coach John Gagliardi won his 400th game as St. John’s of Minnesota (12-1) held on for a 21-14 victory over Linfield (10-1) at McMinnville, Ore., in a quarterfinal game.... Dan Pugh rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns to lead defending champion Mount Union of Ohio (12-0) to its 40th straight victory, a 45-16 win over Wabash, Ind. (12-1) at Alliance, Ohio.

NAIA PLAYOFFS

Robb Latrielle passed to Mark Gallik for a 28-yard touchdown with 2:42 left to send visiting Carroll of Montana (11-2) to the title game with a 20-17 victory over Sioux Falls of South Dakota (12-1).... Neil Warren passed for 240 yards and two touchdowns to lead Georgetown of Kentucky (12-1) to a 35-19 victory over visiting McKendree of Illinois (11-2).