Underdog Dynasty - Week 11 Underdog RecapsAn unofficial The American, Conference USA, Sun Belt, and Independent football bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52546/ud_favicon.png2015-11-21T15:27:05-05:00http://www.underdogdynasty.com/rss/stream/95006792015-11-21T15:27:05-05:002015-11-21T15:27:05-05:00Temple Offense And Defense Dominates Memphis
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<p>Reeling from a heartbreaking loss to Houston the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/memphis-tigers" class="sbn-auto-link">Memphis Tigers</a> looked to rebound in Philadelphia against Temple. Temple on the other hand looked to move one step closer to securing a berth in the AAC Championship Game. The Tigers offense however could never seem to find any sense of rhythm as the Tigers fell to Temple, 31-12.</p>
<p><span>P.J. Walker</span> managed the game well for Temple as he finished with 261 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception on 14 passes in the win. <span>Paxton Lynch</span>, and the Memphis offense, however failed to take advantage of early opportunities.</p>
<p>The Tigers were early recipients of a fumble, an interception, and a 4th down stand at midfield. Field goals were the only byproduct of the defensive stands.</p>
<p>Walker would connect with <span>Romond Deloatch</span> for the 13 yard score midway through the second quarter. <span>David Hood</span> would punch in a run from 14 yards out to add to the Owl lead. Jake Elliot would tack on a field goal for Memphis to trim the Temple halftime lead, 14-9.</p>
<p>The third quarter was rather unceremonious. Memphis kicker Jake Elliot was the only player to find any points as he went 1 for 2 on field goals. Elliot connected from 39 after earlier missing a kick by clanking the upright.</p>
<p>The Owls put the game away in the 4th behind dominant defense and an efficient running game. The Owls defense would keep Memphis in check and force the Tigers to very little movement. The Temple offense meanwhile would dominate the Tigers until the final. Temple would find the end zone on a <span>Kip Patton</span> 13 yard run before adding a 35 yard <span>Austin Jones</span> kick. Walker, late in the 4th, would seal the game on a play action pass to <span>Saledeem Major</span> for the 13 yard score.</p>
<p>The Owl defense ended the game as the only team this season to keep Memphis out of the end zone. Temple held the high powered offense of Memphis to only 230 total yards. Memphis next week looks to rebound at home against SMU while Temple will look to seal the East against UConn.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/21/9775686/temple-dominates-memphis-game-recapcdjames842015-11-14T23:44:46-05:002015-11-14T23:44:46-05:00Bearcats Outgun Golden Hurricane, 49-38
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<p>The Bearcats were simply too much for the Golden Hurricane on Saturday night, getting a big win to become bowl eligible.</p> <p>Sometimes, you have to go with what works. <span>Mike Boone</span> was working for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.downthedrive.com/">Cincinnati Bearcats</a> against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/tulsa-golden-hurricane">Tulsa Golden Hurricane</a>, as he rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns to lead Cincy to their sixth win of the season, making them bowl eligible. Tulsa hung around for much of the game, but the Bearcats were able to make a few more plays to take control and run away with a 49-38 win.</p>
<p>Already thin on defense, the Bearcats were dealt a blow when Bryce Jenkinson was ejected for targeting on Tulsa's opening drive. The Golden Hurricane drew first blood when Evans hit <span>Conner Floyd</span> on the screen for the 18 yard score, making it 7-0. Cincinnati answered with a 12 yard TD run by Mike Boone to tie the game at 7, followed by a Gunner Kiel TD pass to <span>Max Morrison</span> to put Cincy up 14-7.</p>
<p>The Tulsa offense was unable to answer, but the defense came through by picking off Kiel on the Bearcats' next drive. <span>Ramadi Warren</span> answered for the Golden Hurricane, bouncing a 65 yard TD run on 4<sup>th</sup> and inches to tie the game.</p>
<p>However, the Bearcats kept feeding Boone and he kept delivering. After a one yard direct snap TD, Cincy retook the lead, 21-14.</p>
<p>In the third, Warren broke another long TD run on fourth and short to tie the game at 21. The Tulsa defense got another turnover, turning it into three points, but Kiel answered with a 43 yard bomb to <span>Chris Moore</span> to make it 28-24 towards the end of the third. Then, after recovering a fumble, Cincinnati pulled away on a five yard <span>Tion Green</span> touchdown run to go up 35-24. <span>Hosey Williams</span> added a 20 yard touchdown run to stretch the Bearcat lead to 42-24, followed by a <span>D'Angelo Brewer</span> touchdown run for the Golden Hurricane. Boone added his third touchdown run of the night on the ensuing possession, as the Bearcats were able to pull away for the 49-38 win.</p>
<p>As expected, neither defense was able to do much about the opposing offense. Cincinnati outgained Tulsa 652-588, with Kiel throwing for 386 yards and two touchdowns and <span>Dane Evans</span> going 30-49 for 375 yards and two TDs for Tulsa. Warren finished with 139 yards on the ground for the Golden Hurricane. <span>Keyarris Garrett</span> had another huge game for Tulsa as well, finishing with nine catches for 168 yards and a touchdown. <span>Shaq Washington</span> and <span>Mekale McKay</span> were the leading receivers for Cincy, as Washington had eight catches for 91 yards and McKay pulling in six balls for 101 yards.</p>
<p>Now at 6-4, Cincinnati must travel to red-hot USF next week for a meeting with the Bulls. While the Bearcat offense can move the ball on anyone, they will be severely tested by an athletic, hard-hitting Bull defense. Kiel and the rest of the offense must protect the ball better if they want to add a big win to their resume.</p>
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<p>As for the Golden Hurricane, the loss drops them to 5-5 on the year. The postseason is not out of the question for Tulsa, which needs just one win in their final two games to get over the hump. They face #20 Navy next week.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/14/9737194/cincinnati-pulls-away-from-tulsa-in-second-half-to-become-bowlBrian Harper2015-11-14T23:22:35-05:002015-11-14T23:22:35-05:00Georgia State blasts historically bad Texas State
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<figcaption>Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Panthers have reached new milestones in their program's development at the expense of a Texas State program that needs a reboot</p> <p>Before the start of the season, general consensus was that Texas State and Georgia State weren't on an equal footing as football programs. Everyone and their dog picked this game as an easy Bobcat win in front of a friendly home crowd, even weeks into the season as Texas State's composure started to fray.</p>
<p>Well, those prognostications were right in one sense: they're not on an equal footing as programs right now. Georgia State now looks to be the superior team, as evidenced by a 41-19 walloping at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos that was even less competitive than the final score might suggest. After building a 14-6 lead, the Panthers exploded in the 2nd quarter--usually the quarter reserved for Bobcat successes--and raced to a 31-12 halftime advantage that had already felt like a knockout blow at the break.</p>
<p>Texas State's defense continued their 2015 campaign of infamy by giving up a career record for the third straight week. First it was Matt Breida turning on the jets at Georgia Southern, then it was <span>Larry Rose</span> last week slipping past Bobcat defenders. This week, GSU QB Nick Arbuckle went absolutely berzerk.<a target="_blank" href="http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/14/9733442/texas-state-bobcats-vs-georgia-state-panthers-preview-tv-streaming"> I predicted that he would</a> throw four touchdowns, and he certainly did just that. He also threw for a hell of a lot more than that.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Arbuckle's 471 yards and Georgia State's 636 yards of total offense are both school records for the program.</p>
— Joe Vozzelli (@smdrjoe) <a href="https://twitter.com/smdrjoe/status/665680269072973824">November 14, 2015</a>
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<p>If there was any doubt left that Texas State's secondary was better than they'd previously looked, then Georgia State's receivers erased all of it. <span>Robert Davis</span> and Penny Hart ran rampant past Bobcat corners and safeties for 290 combined receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, while <span>Donovan Harden</span> added 2 touchdowns on 58 receiving yards of his own. Texas State's David Mims II and <span>Brandon McDowell</span> were beaten again and again, and safety help was slow in coming.</p>
<p>Texas State did <b>finally</b> secure two interceptions from a couple of errant throws by Arbuckle, including one tip drill that was absolutely bonkers.</p>
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<p>Those were the biggest highlights of Texas State's day.</p>
<p>Georgia State's defense, hot off of a near miss against a UL Lafayette team that's far superior to the Bobcats, locked down Texas State by forcing them to settle for field goals and pressuring QB Tyler Jones into two interceptions of his own. <span>Robert Lowe</span> was also contained to a very quiet 88 yards, a single touchdown, and 5.2 yards per carry. Jones and his receivers were able to move the ball methodically at times (267 total passing yards), but the 'Cats did most of their offensive damage between the opposing 20s and couldn't cash in for points.</p>
<p>Make no mistake, Georgia State absolutely earned this victory and played the part of a superior team. They dominated Texas State in nearly every facet of the game. They absolutely humiliated the Bobcats on their home turf, so much so that even Texas State's own radio crew made comments that Franchione's team looked as if they just wanted to get the game overwith as quickly as possible.</p>
<p>Calls for Fran's dismissal continued to climb at Bobcat Stadium and on #TXST twitter after the game. For his part, Coach Fran sounded ambivalent about his job status for the future, as he deflected questions about his future to say that his only focus is on his players.</p>
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<p>Those questions will continue about Fran's job security throughout the rest of the season. GSU head coach Trent Miles, however, may have just secured his own job with his program's biggest win against an FBS program, ever. Although at this point, it's hard to argue that Texas State is playing like an FBS program.</p>
<p>Georgia State improves to 3-6, 2-3 Sun Belt while Texas State's postseason hopes are officially dead at 2-7, 1-4 SBC. The Panthers will face an inconsistent South Alabama team in the Georgia Dome on Saturday, and Texas State will get another short turnaround to face an equally moribund (<a href="http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/14/9736656/todd-berry-out-at-ulm" target="_blank">and now coachless</a>) ULM team in a Thursday night ESPNU game that ESPN execs will likely regret scheduling for national television.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/14/9736590/georgia-state-humiliates-texas-state-at-home-41-19THETexasStateUniversity2015-11-14T23:21:01-05:002015-11-14T23:21:01-05:00Two Headed Monster Leads USF Over Temple
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<p>USF’s two-headed monster of Quinton Flowers and Marlon Mack laid waste to #22 Temple and kept the Bulls’ AAC title hopes alive.</p> <p>Let's not print those <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/temple-owls" class="sbn-auto-link">Temple Owls</a> AAC East champion t-shirts yet. The <a href="https://www.thedailystampede.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">South Florida Bulls</a> ran over, around and through the Owls' number one ranked defense en route to a dominant 44-23 win.</p>
<p>Led by Flowers and Mack, the Bulls unleashed big play after big play against a Temple defense that has been one of the nation's strongest this season. Mack and Flowers accounted for all four USF touchdowns, as Mack had one rushing and one receiving score and Flowers added two through the air and one on the ground. The Bulls rolled up 556 yards on offense, 326 of which came on the ground.</p>
<p>Temple looked in control in the early going, even pulling out a fake punt on 4<sup>th</sup> and 1 during their opening possession, but missed a field goal after a long drive. After USF was stifled on their opening drive, <span>Jahad Thomas</span> opened the scoring with a two yard score. The Bulls answered when Flowers found <span>Rodney Adams</span> on the post for the 68 yard score to tie the game with six seconds left in the first.</p>
<p>The Owls were uncharacteristically sloppy in the first half, with blown assignments and turnovers giving the Bulls momentum. <span>Deatrick Nichols</span> picked off Walker on the first play of the second quarter, then Flowers cashed in with a five yard keeper to take a 14-7 lead.</p>
<p>Temple answered with a field goal to make it 14-10, but <span>Marlon Mack</span> struck for a big 57 yard right touchdown run right through the heart of the Temple defense to give the Bulls a 21-10 lead. The Bulls weren't done, as Flowers scrambled and found Mack for a 25 yard touchdown catch to make it 28-10. The Owls continued to look out of sorts on offense, and were unable to answer any of USF's big plays. The Bulls added a field goal to take a 31-10 halftime lead.</p>
<p>Temple's defense made the first big play of the second half when Praise Martin-Oguike took the ball away from <span>Darius Tice</span>, giving the Owls the ball on the USF 26. Walker then hit Ventell Bryant for a 14 yard score, making it 31-17. After both teams traded field goals, USF took a 34-20 lead into the fourth.</p>
<p>In the fourth, both sides traded field goals before Mack put the game away with a 48 yard touchdown run to seal the 44-23 win.</p>
<p>The Temple defense had no answer for Mack, who finished with 230 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. Flowers was excellent as well, going 15-22 for 230 yards and two touchdowns of his own. USF's defense was stellar, as well, shutting down Thomas (16 carries, 65 yards) and pressuring Walker into mistakes. Walker finished 20-48 for 259 yards with one TD and one INT.</p>
<p>What You Need To Know:</p>
<p>USF is the real deal. Specifically, the run game. Flowers and Mack have been the engine for the Bulls all season long, but tonight just solidified it even more. Against the top run defense in the conference, Mack was able to do the impossible. He gashed the Owls on both touchdown runs, scoring from 57 and 48 yards. Flowers was able to make plays with both his arm and his legs, as well. The Bull offense is just scary good right now, and if they can do that to Temple, what does that mean for USF's remaining opponents?</p>
<p>For Temple, tonight's loss has to be very disheartening. The Owls came in with a chance to lock up the AAC East, and instead they got run right out of Raymond James Stadium. Yes, USF's offense was riding a hot streak coming into the game, but the Owls' calling card all season has been stopping the run. They didn't even come close to doing that tonight, and it may have cost them a shot at a New Year's Day bowl.</p>
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<p>USF not only kept their AAC championship hopes alive, they also became bowl elible with the win, moving to 6-4. The Bulls move on to face Cincinnati next week. The Owls, meanwhile, fall to 8-2 on the year and face Memphis next week.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/14/9737076/bulls-run-roughshod-over-owls-in-44-23-victoryBrian Harper2015-11-14T23:07:56-05:002015-11-14T23:07:56-05:00Houston Snatches Victory From Jaws Of Defeat
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<figcaption>Jake Elliot could not connect on a game winning field goal late against Houston. | Bob Levey/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Memphis fell to Houston Saturday night in what surely will become an AAC instant classic. The Tigers dominated the first half and appears to be cruising before Houston stormed back to win the game 35-34.</p>
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<p>The story of the first half was defense as the Tigers held Houston drive after drive. Houston had only been held to a max of 4 three and outs as a high for any game this season. In the first half alone the Tigers held the Cougars to 5 three and outs.</p>
<p>The early scoring for Memphis was keyed by a Jake Elliot made 41 yarder quickly followed with a <span>Paxton Lynch</span> find of a wide open <span>Alan Cross</span> for a easy 38 yard touchdown. Lynch would again connect on a 61 yard weaving touchdown to <span>Doroland Dorceus</span> for a 20-0 lead which appeared to be safe heading in to halftime.</p>
<p>Houston would lose star quarterback Greg Ward late in the second quarter and find themselves in the hands of backup quarterback, and former wide receiver, <span>Kyle Postma</span>. Postma would lead the Cougars on a quick scoring drive to narrow the halftime gap 20-7 in favor of Memphis.</p>
<p>In the third quarter the Cougars would find their running game. <span>Kenneth Farrow</span> would make quick work and score on the Cougars opening drive. Doroland Dorceus would answer for the Tigers and the Tiger lead to 27-14.</p>
<p>Memphis would build a 20 point lead 9 seconds in to the 4th as <span>Tevin Jones</span> took a Paxton Lynch pitch 25 yards. All seemed to be rolling in Memphis' favor until the Cougar defense clamped down and the Tigers offense tightened up.</p>
<p>Kenneth Farrow again would add a score and cut the Tiger lead to 13, 34-21. The Tigers would find themselves able to stop the Cougars sparingly in short field situations only to cough up turnovers. A Dorceus fumble followed by a Paxton Lynch intercepted pass would lead to short fields for Houston allowing the Cougars to find the end zone and pull the game within 6 points. After Memphis failed to convert on a late drive the Cougars would take advantage. Kyle Postmas would lead a late drive and score the go ahead touchdown with 1:27 remaining in the game.</p>
<p>Paxton Lynch appeared poised to lead his offense in to a game winning situation. The Tigers have made come from behind wins a bit of a norm this season and it looked as if they may pull another game out after giving up an enormous lead. After giving up the 20 point 4th quarter lead the Tigers would find themselves relying on the leg of their trusty kicker Jake Elliot for a 48 yard game winner. Elliots kick sailed wide right allowing Houston to claim their third largest come from behind win in school history.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/14/9737044/houston-steals-game-from-memphis-in-furious-comebackcdjames842015-11-14T21:33:58-05:002015-11-14T21:33:58-05:00App State Torches Idaho On Ground, Wins 47-20
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<p>With Marcus Cox not playing due to nagging injuries, true freshman Jalin Moore stepped up for the Mountaineers, who rolled the Vandals in Moscow.</p> <p>Behind 244 rushing yards on 27 carries from Jalin Moore, Appalachian State (8-2, 5-1) methodically took care of Idaho (3-7, 2-5) 47-20 on Saturday in the Kibbie Dome.</p>
<p>Moore took the place of leading rusher Marcus Cox, who was dressed but didn't play due to a nagging knee injury, and carved up the Vandals' defense for three quarters.</p>
<p>The breakout game from Moore was part of a 415-yard rushing effort from the Mountaineers. That contributed to a 511-299 yard edge and 36:44-23:16 possession advantage on the day.</p>
<p>For Idaho, <span>Matt Linehan</span> finished 20-31 for 243 yards and two touchdowns.</p>
<p>App State scored on the third possession of the game on a wide-open pass to Barrett Burns. But before the end of the quarter, Elijah Penny escaped the backfield and hauled in a 15-yard catch to tie the game 7-7.</p>
<p>The Mountaineers then took the ball and finished on a Lamb pitch to Bobo Beathard for a 17-yard score. Idaho tried to answer, but had to settle for a 22-yard <span>Austin Rehkow</span> field goal to make it 14-10 App.</p>
<p>App State made it a two-score game on the next drive as Terrence Upshaw bulldozed in from one yard out to make it 21-10. The Vandals tried to drive, but again had to settle for a Rehkow 44-yard field goal as the half ended 21-13 App State.</p>
<p>Malachi Jones made it 28-13 early in the second half from 15 yards out and with the App defense shutting down the Vandals' offense, no answer was had. A 15-play, 93-yard drive that took 8:49 off the clock made it 35-13 late in the third quarter as Lamb found Montez McGurie on a nice fade route.</p>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pinpoint toss from <a href="https://twitter.com/taylor_lamb11">@taylor_lamb11</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/EightFoe_Tez">@EightFoe_Tez</a> for the TD <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dime?src=hash">#Dime</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AppState_FB">@AppState_FB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/appstatesports">@appstatesports</a> <a href="https://t.co/4kvAOm6QFg">pic.twitter.com/4kvAOm6QFg</a></p>
— HERO Sports (@HeroSportsNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/HeroSportsNews/status/665687938592718848">November 15, 2015</a>
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<p>Early in the fourth, Idaho got called for holding in their own end zone, giving App State a safety to make it 37-13. With the ball up 24, the backups were in as JP Caruso led the offense down the field, finding Bill Cecil from five yards out to make the score 44-13.</p>
<p>The Vandals were able to get a nice drive in, ending with a Trent Cowan 10-yard touchdown from Linehan to make it 44-20. After the surprise onside kick was recovered by App, Zack Matics added a 31-yard field goal late in the game to give us the 47-20 final score.</p>
<p>The win give App State a good day after the loss to Arkansas State loss going into their bye week. The loss for Idaho eliminates the Vandals from bowl consideration barring unforeseen circumstances. Idaho makes their third trip to the state of Alabama next week to face Auburn.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/sun-belt-conference/2015/11/14/9736716/no-cox-no-problem-app-state-dispatches-idaho-47-20TK Maxwell2015-11-14T20:15:06-05:002015-11-14T20:15:06-05:00Marshall Upends FIU 52-0
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<figcaption>Remi Watson (8) offers a stiff arm against FIU | Falecia Collier/Collier Photography</figcaption>
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<p>Marshall pitches its first shutout since 2013 and its first against a FBS opponent since 2003 in a dominating win on the 45th anniversary of the 1970 plane crash.</p> <p>Marshall football paid tribute to the 75 who died 45 years ago today in the Southern Airways flight 932 with a 52-0 dismantling of FIU at Joan C. Edwards Stadium on senior day.</p>
<p>It was the largest margin of defeat by a team in Conference USA since Marshall defeated Southern Miss 61-13 in 2013. The win also marked the first time Marshall shutout a FBS opponent since blanking Ohio in 2003.</p>
<p>Marshall forced a quick three and out by FIU to open the contest and rushed out to an early 7-0 on a <span>Remi Watson</span> 1-yard run, capping off a 5-play 45-yard drive.</p>
<p>11:14 remained in the quarter when Watson rumbled in for the score.</p>
<p>The Herd added to its early lead on a Chase Litton 7-yard strike to <span>Justin Hunt</span> and a 14-0 lead midway through the opening quarter. Litton finished with the game 16-of-23 for 169 yards and three touchdowns in only three quarters.</p>
<p>Both teams traded punts after the score and Marshall's Deandre Reaves provided his special touch to the contest. Reaves fielded the <span>Chris Ayers</span> 50-yard punt at his own 31-yard line, made a great cut shy of midfield, then streaked down the middle to the endzone for a 69-yard punt return for the touchdown and a 21-0 lead after one quarter. It was Reaves first career punt return for a touchdown.</p>
<p>Marshall's red-hot offense continued to open the second quarter with Litton finding <span>Ryan Yurachek</span> for a 3-yard touchdown and a 28-0 Herd lead.</p>
<p>Watson cashed in for his second score in the game, streaking past the FIU defense for a 62-yard score and a 35-0 Marshall lead. The run was Watson's longest of the season. Watson led the Herd's rushing attack with a game-high 97 yards on 11 carries.</p>
<p><span>Nick Smith</span> sent the game to the locker room with 35-yard field goal attempt just before the break, making it 38-0.</p>
<p>Reaves added to his senior day performance, hauling in a 10-yard touchdown reception from Litton for his fourth receiving touchdown of the season and a 45-point lead after three quarters.</p>
<p>Reaves tallied five catches for 31 yards and <span>Davonte Allen</span> added 71 yards on five catches including a 33-yard grab on the first Marshall play from scrimmage.</p>
<p><span>Michael Birdsong</span> capped off the scoring for Marshall, walking in untouched for a 2-yard score, extending the Herd's lead to 52-0. It was Birdsong's first rushing touchdown of the season.</p>
<p>Marshall totaled 463 total yards of offense on 65 plays. FIU managed only 209 yards on 63 plays.</p>
<p><span>Alex McGough</span> finished 11-of 25 for 98 yards and an interception in the loss. <span>Anthony Jones</span> toted the rushing load for the Panthers on 16 carries for 73 yards.</p>
<p><br> Marshall welcomes a much needed bye week before heading to Bowling Green in two weeks for a defector CUSA East Division championship game with Western Kentucky. FIU will face WKU next weekend in Florida in its final regular season matchup.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/conference-usa/2015/11/14/9736546/marshall-dismantles-fiu-52-0CollierSZLive2015-11-14T20:09:08-05:002015-11-14T20:09:08-05:00DiRocco's Field Goal Lifts Tulane Over Army
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<figcaption>Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Somehow, someway, Tulane managed to find a way to nab its third victory of the season Saturday afternoon thanks to a game-winning field goal by Andrew DiRocco.</p> <p>Brace yourselves, folks. Tulane actually won a game. Yes, the Green Wave toppled Army 34-31 in West Point on Saturday and snapped its five-game losing streak. Pick your jaw up off the floor and read on as we break down the roller coaster Tulane rode in 60 minutes of game action.</p>
<h5>Opened up a 28-7 lead in the second quarter</h5>
<p>Something got into the Green Wave after the Black Knights marched 75 yards on their opening drive and took a 7-0 lead. Whatever it was, it worked. Tulane (3-7) forced Army (2-8) to turn the ball over on downs on each of its next two possessions and scored on each ensuing drive. The Green Wave's first touchdown came on a 90-yard pass from Tanner Lee to Teddy Veal — the second longest touchdown pass in program history. Then Tulane went 59 yards in seven plays and Lee found Kendall Ardoin from 15 yards out. A fumble recovery for a touchdown put the Green Wave up 21-7 and a fourth consecutive score (25-yard run by Josh Rounds) made it 28-7.</p>
<h5>Managed to give 14 of those points back before halftime</h5>
<p>Rounds scored with 3:35 left, which would feasibly mean there was enough time for one more good drive. Not so fast, my friend. The Black Knights scored in less than two minutes and sent the ball back to Tulane. The Green Wave promptly went three-and-out, its punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown.</p>
<h5>Held another option offense well below its season average</h5>
<p>Granted, Army wasn't quite Georgia Tech or Navy, but the Black Knights entered Saturday's game with the nation's eighth best rushing attack (257.4 yards per game). Army gained 70 yards on its opening drive and looked poised to run all over Tulane. Well, the Green Wave held strong and limited the Black Knights to 146 the rest of the way.</p>
<h5>Only committed two penalties</h5>
<p>You take the victories where you can if you're Tulane. The Green Wave knew it had to play disciplined against a service academy to have any shot at winning. Tulane did just that after having been penalized seven times per game in its nine previous contests.</p>
<h5>Won a game with its special teams</h5>
<p>Usually it's the other way around. Case in point: the blocked punt at the end of the first half. But the Green Wave set Andrew DiRocco up with a chance to be the hero if he made a 35-yard field goal with four seconds left. DiRocco answered the call as his kick split the uprights and sent Tulane back to New Orleans with a win. It was the second field goal of the game for DiRocco, as he converted from 31 yards out earlier in the fourth quarter.</p>
https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015/11/14/9736480/tulane-green-wave-beat-army-black-knights-34-31tmayforth