Topic: Doug Smock: Another puntfest could break out in St. Pete

[biggreenarms]

T. PETERSBURG, FLA. — Marshall’s first football journey to the Tampa Bay area was very un-Marshall-like, from a historical perspective.

The 2011 St. Petersburg Bowl was a defensive struggle or an offensive pillow fight, or both.

Whatever it was, the Thundering Herd’s 20-10 win over Florida International is the lowest-scoring of seven games on Tropicana Field’s first-base line. It is the lowest-scoring bowl in MU’s modern era.

Marshall held the Panthers to bowl record lows in first downs (12), plays (59) and passing yards (163). The teams set an unwelcome high of 15 punts, and it was appropriate that MU’s block with 7:35 left was the game-turning play.

That game in no way resembled other Herd’s other bowl victories, which include scores of 48-29, 64-61, 38-15 and 52-23.

Why do I dredge that ugly game from the archives? Because the Herd is back in St. Pete and another puntfest could break out.

When Marshall meets Connecticut at 11 a.m., the defenses have the advantage over the opposing offense on both sides.

http://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/20151224/doug-smock-another-puntfest-could-break-out-in-st-pete