West Virginia Vs. Marshall: Stopping The Running Game Is Key For Mountaineers

When new Marshall head coach Doc Holliday decided to walk away from his associate head coaching position at West Virginia in order to become the leader of the Herd, he did so knowing that he had two very talented sophomore running backs awaiting him in Huntington.  Those two players were Martin Ward and Andre Booker.

Ward was the big name of the two. The well built running back, who came to Marshall as a heralded recruit out of Mt. Zion High School in Georgia.  Ward came on strong toward the end of the 2009 season, rushing for a combined 250 yards in the team’s last three games of the year.   Ward showed glimpses that he could be bound for big things with a bright future ahead of him.

Then there was Booker, the unproven one. The 5‘10 180 lb. back that only received 15 touches in his freshman season, not nearly enough to show what he’s made of.  Even without the carries, the coaches new Booker was special, his reported 4.3, 40 yard dash certainly helped a bit in winning them over.

Yes, Holliday knew that the two had potential, but he also knew that potential only gets you so far in the business of college football.

In the Herd’s season opener in Columbus, like the rest of the Marshall offense, the two running backs were decisively shut down by a superior and fast flowing Ohio State defense. Ward would finish with six carries for 36 yards while Booker totaled just five yards on eight attempts.

It wasn’t the showing many were hoping for, but considering they were going up against the no. 2 team in the nation, it was certainly understandable. Ward has been playing with a hand injury that has limited him in the practices leading up to tonight’s game so it looks like Booker will be the go to guy for the Herd tonight.

West Virginia will have to keep the speedy Booker contained if they’re hoping to put this one away early. Shutting down the run was a key to their success in last season’s match up as they only allowed 1.7 yards a carry in the 24-7 victory.

Booker and Ward both have the ability to do damage to the West Virginia defense if they let them. The key is for the front seven to stay disciplined and stay hungry.