The NCAA News - News and Features

January 6, 1997

Marshall bids farewell to I-AA football with decisive win

In its final game as a member of Division I-AA, Marshall showed why the rest of the division will not be shedding any tears over the Thundering Herd's jump to Division I-A next season.

The Herd's 49-29 victory over defending champion Montana in the Division I-AA Football Championship title game December 21 capped a stunning run through the playoffs. Marshall outscored its opponents, 193-57, through four games and prompted observers to ponder whether it was the best team the division has ever seen.

Playing on its home field in Huntington, West Virginia, Marshall dominated the previously undefeated Grizzlies and avenged a 22-20 loss in last season's title game. Freshman receiver Randy Moss caught nine passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns, quarterback Eric Kresser threw for 324 yards, and running backs Erik Thomas and Doug Chapman each gained more than 100 yards on the ground.

And while the offense was getting well-deserved rest, the Herd defense was holding Montana's vaunted offense in check. The Grizzlies, who averaged more than 500 yards per game, mustered only 220 yards and two field goals in the first three quarters and entered the final period trailing, 39-6.

"The defense really rose up," first-year Marshall coach Bob Pruett said. "Montana had a potent offense, but we shut them down. We got the game out of hand because of our defense."

"I'm not sure anybody in our division could beat Marshall today," Montana coach Mick Dennehy said. "They are to be commended. Marshall has too many weapons."

The most dangerous weapons were Kresser and Moss. They hooked up on a 19-yard touchdown pass to cap the Herd's first drive, and Kresser found Moss for scores of 70, 54 and 28 yards within the first minute of each succeeding quarter. The last score gave Marshall a 46-6 lead and ended any chance of a comeback for Montana.

When it was all over, Moss had tied the playoff record for most touchdown catches in a single game and set records for receiving yards (636) and touchdown receptions (nine) in a tournament.

Montana quarterback Brian Ah Yat completed 36 of 55 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns, despite being under constant pressure from the Marshall defensive front. But two Ah Yat turnovers -- an interception and a fumble -- resulted in Marshall's second and third touchdowns and staked the Herd to a 20-0 lead.

Marshall became only the second team in division history to post a 15-0 record. Georgia Southern also achieved that mark in 1989.

"I don't know if we are the best team ever in I-AA," said Kresser, a senior who transferred from Florida. "But we should be considered when there is talk of the best ever. We proved that today."

CHAMPIONSHIP

Montana -- 0 -- 6 -- 0 -- 23 -- 29

Marshall -- 14 -- 9 -- 16 -- 10 -- 49

First Quarter

Marshall -- Randy Moss 19 pass from Eric Kresser (Tim Openlander kick) (9:13)

Marshall -- Doug Chapman 61 run (Openlander kick) (2:09)

Second Quarter

Marshall -- Moss 70 pass from Kresser (kick blocked) (14:08)

Marshall -- Openlander 20 field goal (8:14)

Montana -- Andy Larson 40 field goal (5:05)

Montana -- Larson 27 field goal (:15)

Third Quarter

Marshall -- Moss 54 pass from Kresser (Openlander kick) (14:05)

Marshall -- Chapman 9 run (Openlander kick) (5:03)

Marshall -- Safety, Brian Ah Yat intentional grounding in end zone (4:34)

Fourth Quarter

Marshall -- Moss 28 pass from Kresser (Openlander kick) (14:51)

Montana -- Joe Douglass 4 pass from Ah Yat (Dallas Neil pass from Ah Yat) (10:52)

Montana -- Josh Branen 2 run (Douglass pass from Ah Yat) (7:09)

Marshall -- Openlander 37 field goal (4:18)

Montana -- Josh Paffhausen 18 pass from Ah Yat (Larson kick) (2:09)

-- Montana -- Marshall

First Downs -- 31 -- 21

Rushing Yardage -- 95 -- 217

Passing Yardage -- 335 -- 324

Return Yardage -- 16 -- 30

Passes (Comp.-Att.-Int.) -- 36-55-1 -- 18-28-0

Punts (No.-Avg.) -- 4-42.5 -- 5-38.8

Fumbles (No.-Lost) -- 2-1 -- 0-0

Penalties (No.-Yards) -- 8-49 -- 9-79

Attendance -- 30,052.