Marshall's Five Keys to Beating New Hampshire

Thundering Herd fans looking for their team's first victory of the season shouldn't pen in a "W" for Saturday's contest against a I-AA (I will never use the term FCS) opponent, the New Hampshire Wildcats. 

UNH rolls into Huntington coming off of a 41-24 loss at Colonial Athletic Association rival James Madison, but is still quite capable of knocking off a I-A team. 

Just ask  Northwestern. 

The Wildcats from Durham, NH embarrassed the Wildcats from Evanston 34-17 to open  their 2006 season.  New Hampshire made a run into the I-AA playoffs, losing by seven in the quarterfinals to eventual runner-up UMass. 

Oh yeah, they also return quarterback Ricky Santos, who won the Walter Payton Award, I-AA's equivalent of the Heisman. 

So without further ado, here are Marshall's five keys to avoiding the upset:

1.  Avoid the hangover. 

The hangover is an amazing trend in college football. 

A team coming off a huge game almost always comes out flat the following week, especially against a team perceived to be weak. 

Marshall played their hearts out against West Virginia last week, hanging with the #3 Mountaineers well into the fourth quarter in front of a Joan C. Edwards Stadium record 40,383 fans.  (Surprisingly enough, the stadium's inaugural 1991 game against New Hampshire held the attendance record for over a decade.) 

Against UNH, the Thundering Herd needs to take some Advil and come out with the same intensity it did a week ago, as difficult as that may be.

2.  Santos, Santos, Santos!

It's strange but true:

The Herd's biggest test in defending the passing game so far this season will come against the I-AA Wildcats. 

While Miami and West Virginia pounded the ball on the ground, New Hampshire certainly will not.  Ricky Santos flung the ball 47 times last week against JMU, completing 36 passes for 353 yards in the losing effort.  He will put up yards on Marshall's relatively young secondary, but the key for the Thundering Herd is to slow him down and avoid the big play. 

MU will certainly miss Albert McClellan in this one.  His presence alone could have wreaked havoc on the Wildcats' passing game.  Defensive ends John Jacobs and Ryland Wilson will need to step up and help the secondary by putting pressure on Santos.

3.  The other passing game.

While the Wildcats will start an award-winning senior at quarterback, Marshall will likely start redshirt freshman Brian Anderson.  It will be Anderson's first career start as he fills in for senior Bernard Morris, who will probably sit out with a turf toe injury. 

Anderson has a few series under his belt from the Herd's first two games, but he looked rather unimpressive in both.  His stat line reads 4 for 10 with 31 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception. 

Although New Hampshire's defense is not even close to Miami or WVU's, Marshall will still need the freshman to grow up in a hurry. 

If Anderson struggles, the Wildcats will certainly be in the game.

4.  Marshall on the carry for Marshall.  Wait, what?

If Brian Anderson does struggle, the wonderfully named Darius Marshall will need to carry the load at running back. 

The freshman has emerged from the pack and appears to have won the "I'm going to replace Ahmad Bradshaw" award. 

Marshall only has 14 carries in his career, but has made the most of them by going for 94 yards.  However, he lost a key fumble midway through the third quarter against West Virginia that turned out to be a momentum-changer for the Mountaineers. 

Marshall will need to keep his hands on the ball Saturday, as he will probably see more than 14 carries.  Another huge kickoff return from the freshman wouldn't hurt either.

5.  60 Minutes—not just a TV show.

In Mark Synder's first two years as head coach, Marshall seemed to get stronger as the game went on.

In 2007, that hasn't been the case. 

Miami and WVU have worn down Marshall in the fourth quarter, and both were able to run the ball down the Herd's throat late. 

The number one edge a I-A team has over a I-AA team is depth.  The key will be for Marshall to reverse their fourth quarter fortunes and take advantage of that edge against New Hampshire. 

If the game is still close in the final period, the Herd will need to use its depth to push around a tired Wildcat offensive line to disrupt Santos.  If they can wear down New Hampshire's defense, Marshall will pound Marshall (four years of this name, I love it) and keep the ball out of Santos's hands.

The Prediction

Marshall has not lost to a I-AA opponent since moving up to I-A, but New Hampshire will probably be the Herd's toughest test to date.  And Synder's teams have historically struggled against inferior competition. 

William & Mary had a lead late in the third quarter in 2005, until a Matt Couch fumble return for a touchdown turned the tide en route to a 12-point Herd victory.  Hofstra shocked the Herd early last year by taking a 14-0 lead before Morris and Bradshaw finally took over.

Look for more of the same this weekend—there will probably be some tense moments in this game for Herd fans.  New Hampshire proved last year that they will not be phased by the Thundering Herd's I-A status. 

Marshall will likely come out flat, and might even trail after the first quarter.  Then, the Herd faithful will finally sense danger and get the team fired up.  Depth will eventually take over in the second half as Marshall lights up the scoreboard at will. 

Darius Marshall has his coming out party to the tune of 150 yards rushing and four TDs.  Santos throws for 350 yards and three scores, but it won't be enough.

Final Score: Marshall 55   New Hampshire 27