59-28 romp over ECU clinches East crown
By Doug Smock
Charleston Gazette
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall’s first “Game of the Year” in 11 years may have been its best game in a decade. East Carolina, the East Division favorite in Conference USA, didn’t have a prayer.
The Thundering Herd didn’t just win its first division title in nine years of C-USA membership, it pillaged, plundered and pilloried the visiting Pirates Friday by a most unexpected margin of 59-28. An enthusiastic crowd of 25,117 watched at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Marshall (9-3 overall, 7-1 C-USA) will play for its first Conference USA championship at noon next Saturday at the home field of the team with the best league record and will be televised by ESPN2. Should Tulane beat Rice today, the game will be played in Huntington against a team to be determined; if the Owls win, they win the West at 7-1 and their BCS ranking will break the tie…