Final Four Game #2: Marshall at Cincinnati:
Cincinnati 41, Marshall 38: In the second semifinal of the 2015 G5 football playoff, the Marshall Thundering Herd traveled west to face the Cincinnati Bearcats in a game that came down to the final seconds.
The Bearcats opened the game with the football, starting on their own 22-yard line versus the Marshall defense. Relying on quarterback Gunner Kiel's strong arm, the Bearcats found open space in droves in rolling to the Marshall five yard line. The Thundering Herd defense then came up big with a goal-line stand to limit Cincinnati to a field goal and a 3-0 lead with 8:20 left in the opening quarter. After a pair of fruitless drives, the Thundering Heard again got the ball inside their own 30-yard line. Two plays later, running back Devon Johnson was off to the races for a 69-yard touchdown run to give Marshall the lead at 7-3 with 4:29 left in the quarter. Cincinnati moved back inside the Marshall red zone on the next drive before Kiel's pass is picked off at the Thundering Herd 10-yard line. Marshall, on the back of Johnson, moves out to the 30-yard line before punting as the first quarter came to a close with Marshall leading 7-3.
The Bearcats are unable to move the ball in their opening drive of the second quarter and watch as the defense gives up another big play almost immediately afterward. The big play was a 73-yard screen pass taken to the house to put the Thundering Herd up 14-3 with 13:36 left in the first half. Needing to respond and stay in the game, Kiel gets back on focus with 7-8 passing on a 10-play, 82-yard drive that is capped by a three yard run around the edge to pull Cincinnati within four points at 14-10. The Thundering Herd again moves downfield in chunks and find the end zone for the third time with a 13-yard run to give Marshall a 21-10 lead late in the first half. Both teams trade last minute field goals as the first half comes to a close with Marshall leading 24-13 over the AAC Champion Bearcats.
The second half starts in devastating fashion for the Thundering Herd as the opening kickoff is fumbled at the 20-yard line with Cincinnati pouncing on the ball at the Marshall 18. Four plays later, Kiel sneaks it in from one yard out to pull the Bearcats within four points once again at 24-20. Marshall answers once again with a 13-play, 79-yard drive that takes up 8:45 of game time with Devon Johnson finding paydirt from three yards out for his third touchdown to give the Thundering Herd a 31-20 lead over Cincinnati. The Bearcats find an answer of their own as Kiel uncorks a 63-yard deep ball that is ran into the endzone to put Cincinnati back within four points at 31-27 at the end of the third quarter.
For the first real time all game long, Cincinnati stuffs Marshall, forcing the Thundering Herd to give the ball back. Kiel proceeds to lead the Bearcats on a 12-play drive with Cincinnati taking their first lead of the game at 34-31 with 8:49 left in the game. Riding Devon Johnson one more time, Marshall responds with a 14-play, 68-yard drive versus the exhausted Bearcats defense. Johnson finds the endzone for the fourth time of the day on a 5-yard carry up the middle to give Marshall a 38-34 lead with 1:47 left in the game. The Thundering Herd leave just a bit too much on the clock for the Bearcats as Kiel moves the ball masterfully and breaks the hearts of Marshall fans all over the country with a 12-yard touchdown pass at the clock hit :04. After the PAT, Cincinnati took a 41-38 lead. Marshall fair caught the kickoff at their own 31-yard line and toss a long Hail Mary that falls to the ground with Cincinnati pulling out a wild 41-38 win.
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