Same Ol Song and Dance For Marshall in The Friends Of Coal Bowl

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

      In the fourth year of the annual Friends of Coal Bowl it appeared for the first 3 and a half quarters that the Marshall Thundering Herd (4-3, 2-1)  were finally going to get the best of their in-state rival West Virginia University University (5-1, 1-0). However, the Mountaineers of WVU used crucial halftime adjustments on defense and some big time plays on offense to put away the Thundering Herd 24-7 Saturday afternoon in Morgantown.

     Some might say that this game shouldn't be considered a rivalry simply because these two teams don't have a lengthy history playing against each other (5 times since 1997), however the players and coaches of both teams definitely could tell it was more than just a game. WVU starting QB Jarrett Brown was knocked out of the game on WVU's first possession by Marshall CB Ashton Hall when Hall hit Brown with a crowd quieting shot forcing a fumble which was recovered by the Herd. The turnover led to Marshall's only points on the day when Marshall QB Brian Anderson capped off a 16 play 64 yard drive with a 12 yard rush to the corner of the end zone giving Marshall a 7-0 lead.

     The touchdown was the only score of the first half until WVU turned an interception into a field goal with 36 seconds to go in the first half. Going into halftime Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said, "WVU has started slow all year and then just exploded in the second half" apparently Snyder forgot to knock on wood in the locker room because the second half belonged to the Mountaineers in a big way scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half.

     The Marshall defense did a fantastic job of containing Noel Devine and the WVU rushing attack in the first half, but Devine wouldn't lay down as he scored WVU's first TD of the game opening the second half with a 14 yard run just 5 minutes into the second half. Devine finished the day with 19 carries for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns.

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