Topic: Parthenon: Another challenge awaits with ECU

[ZackUSAF82]

With three games left in the season, Marshall (1-8, 1-4 Conference USA) has a chance to ease the sting of a lost season with a win at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium against the East Carolina Pirates (6-4, 5-1).

Too often in the position of bowling pins rather than bowling ball, Marshall faces a team that happens to be on a roll.

After a 1-3 start that included losses to Southern Miss along with ranked teams Virginia Tech and West Virginia, the Pirates have won five of their last six games and five straight in C-USA.

The running game is strong, averaging more than 170 yards a game and has scored 22 rushing touchdowns. Senior Chris Johnson, who averaged four yards a carry in his first three years, is averaging nearly six yards a carry as a senior and leads the team with 973 yards and 13 touchdowns. East Carolina tends to lean on him in road games as he topped 100 yards rushing in all three road wins, including 301 yards in a 56-40 win over Memphis last week.

The passing game is not as strong, averaging 210.6 yards a game, as there is no standout receiver and the team rotates quarterbacks Patrick Pinkney and Rob Kass.

Pinkney is more of a dual threat while Kass is a more cerebral pocket passer. Pinkney has thrown for 10 touchdowns and has run for 224 yards and a touchdown, while Kass was a key force in wins over Central Florida and UTEP.

Link: http://media.www.marshallparthenon.com/media/storage/paper534/news/2007/11/09/Sports/Another.Challenge.Awaits.With.Ecu-3090919.shtml