The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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November 27, 2009

Win over UTEP today would be huge for Herd

By Gary Fauber

Today could be the most important day of Mark Snyder’s career at Marshall.

A win over host Texas-El Paso would improve an already bowl-eligible Thundering Herd to 7-5 and virtually lock it into a postseason game. The EagleBank Bowl in Washington and the New Orleans Bowl have been the two most speculated Herd destinations most of the season.

A loss to the Miners (3-8, 2-5 Conference USA) could prove detrimental to Snyder’s job. Even with a loss, the Herd would finish the regular season with a non-losing season for the first time in his five years. But more was expected.

Whatever the stakes, Snyder is high on his team.

“It’s (getting six wins) something we haven’t done since we’ve been here,” he said. “This is the first group that came in and said that they were going to do it, and they did it. I don’t think they’re done yet.”

The Herd (4-3 C-USA) faces a UTEP team averaging 414.1 yards of total offense and 27.8 points per game.

“I was talking with (SMU) coach (June) Jones briefly before the game and he felt like UTEP’s offense was the best offense they had faced coming into their game since (nationally ranked) TCU,” Snyder said. “That’s quite a statement.”

Running back Darius Marshall should return for the Herd after missing last Saturday’s 34-31 win over SMU with an ankle injury. Martin Ward and Terrell Edwards-Maye both went over 100 yards in his absence.

Freshman receiver Aaron Dobson had his biggest day, catching four passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. He had a 48-yard reception on a flea flicker that helped set up Ward’s 2-yard touchdown run.

Snyder wasn’t apprehensive about letting the younger players get more involved.

“No, not really,” he said. “There is a little bit of that, but I was excited to see them play because they are talented. The key is pass protection, and can they hold on to the ball. Those are the only two questions I had. I thought they played really well.

“To ask Aaron Dobson, a true freshman, to go in and do the things we asked him to do, I thought he rose to the challenge and had a good day, along with a lot of other players.”

UTEP coach Mike Price recognizes the challenge Marshall will present.

“They are tough and they are big,” he said. “They’re going to hit you in the mouth and you’re going to have to hit them back. Their quarterback (Brian Anderson) manages the game real well. They have two outstanding freshman receivers (Dobson and Antavious Wilson). They have a huge line. Their defense will just smack you and keep smacking you and they are tough. They are a tough, physical bunch of guys, so it’s going to be really fun to play against them.”

— E-mail: gfauber@

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