Nov 27, 2001

Associated Press

Marshall has been the beneficiary of home-field advantage en route to four consecutive Mid-American Conference titles. This time, the Thundering Herd make a trail to Toledo to play the Rockets on Friday in search of number five.

The 20th-ranked Thundering Herd (10-1, 8-0 MAC) defeated the Rockets (8-2, 5-2) at home in both 1997 and 1998 to start their current run of league championships. The last two years, Marshall has defeated Western Michigan to secure a berth in the Motor City Bowl.

However, the matchup between these teams last season ended in an easy 42-0 victory by the Rockets. The Thundering Herd have not won at the "Glass Bowl" since 1978 and have won only once in their last nine games at Toledo, which has won 13 in a row at home overall.

This time around, no bowl berth is on the line because both teams have already made dates for the postseason.

Marshall, which will play in the GMAC Bowl on Dec. 19, has won 10 consecutive games since a season-opening loss at Florida but had trouble last week in a 38-24 victory over Division I-AA school and former rival Youngstown State.

Byron Leftwich threw for 208 yards and three touchdowns for the Thundering Herd, who nearly became the first ranked I-A school to lose to a I-AA opponent. Marshall, which allowed 372 rushing yards to Youngstown State, needed a goal-line stand in the final minutes to preserve the victory.

"As soon as they went down there and scored the first time, we could tell they were sky high," Marshall coach Bob Pruett said. "We were not as ready to play as I hope we are next week."

Toledo, which will inherit Marshall's spot in the Motor City Bowl this season, was on the wrong end of a 56-21 thrashing at Bowling Green on Saturday. In addition to the home-field advantage this season, the Rockets hope the return of quarterback Tavares Bolden will put them over the top.

Bolden did not play last week due to back spasms but performed well in practice Sunday. He is 18-2 as a starter and has completed 68 percent of his passes this season, throwing for 12 touchdowns and running for three more.

"I felt good," Bolden said. "I just wanted to get a couple of throws in and get back to throwing the ball a little bit."

The Rockets also feature a premier tailback in Chester Taylor, who has 1,242 yards and 18 touchdowns.

The senior had just 82 yards in Saturday's loss and hopes his final game against the Thundering Herd will be his best one. Taylor has rushed for only 65 yards on 26 carries in three previous meetings.