Topic: ODU- Harry Minium blog

[Big City]

MARSHALL UP NEXT

ODU opens Conference USA play at defending league champion Marshall on Saturday (3:30 p.m., American Sports Network).

Marshall crushed the Monarchs, 56-14, last season in Norfolk. The outcome would have been more lopsided had Marshall coach Doc Holliday not gone to his bench early and often in the second half.

Marshall moved to 3-1 Saturday with a 36-29 double overtime victory at Kent State.

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Follow @GrantTraylor on Twitter for the most up-to-date news on Marshall.

Marshall is without standout quarterback Rakeem Cato, now starring in the Canadian Football League, and is playing true freshman Chase Litton.

Michael Birdsong, the transfer from James Madison who visited ODU before chosing Marshall, lost his starting position to Litton earlier this season after he was hobbled with an injury.

Devon Johnson, the battering ram-like Marshall running back, went down with an injury on the second series at Kent State. He was replaced by Tony Pittman, who began the second overtime with an 18-yard run, then scored the game-winner on a 7-yard TD run.

Pittman, a sophomore from Phoebus High in Hampton, rushed 24 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

http://hamptonroads.com/blogs/harry-minium