VS 
FAU (1-5, 0-2 C-USA)
vs. Marshall (1-4, 0-1 C-USA)
- When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
- Where: Joan C. Edwards Stadium, Huntington, W. Va.
- Radio: ESPN West Palm (106.3 FM)
- TV: ASN (South Florida WTCN, Comcast Ch. 15)
- Scouting the Thundering Herd: HerdZone.com
Key for FAU: Pound the ball. The Owls are getting healthy along the offensive line. Over the past couple games the chief beneficiaries have been the FAU running backs. In Buddy Howell and Devin Singletary the Owls have two backs capable of grinding out yardage and keeping their defense off the field.
Key for Marshall: Play like Marshall. The Thundering Herd have been one of the premiere programs in Conference USA, but this year they haven’t performed like one. Losses to Louisville and Pitt are explicable, but last week’s 38-21 shortcoming at North Texas surprised many. Marshall is once again loaded with South Florida athletes. Should they play to their potential, the Herd should have the horses to defeat FAU.
Key Match-up: Marshall’s offensive line vs. FAU’s defensive front four. In recent years the Thundering Herd have been able to gash the Owls straight up the middle. FAU seems to have found some consistency in the middle of the line, with Shalom Ogbonda and Stephen Leggett playing better each week, and Josh Kendall and Denzel Whitfield continuing to improve. If the Owls stop the run straight up the gut, they will give themselves a chance. If not, Marshall could put this game away early.
Championship Ball: This is the final game of the season’s first half for Marshall and the first game of the season’s second half for FAU. Did anyone predict in August that the winner of this game would be earning their first W against an FBS school? FAU’s lone win of the season came against Southern Illinois of the FCS. Marshall’s came against FCS opponent Morgan St.
Getting Explosive: Only four teams are allowing more than the 41.0 points per game the Thundering Herd have surrendered in their first five games this season. FAU’s offense this season has proven to be the cure for what ails bad defenses. The Owls, though, think they can hit the Thundering Herd for some big plays. “They’re pretty much one level of defense, so if we clear that first level there’s some yardage to be made,” FAU offensive coordinator Travis Trickett said.
Not Great Late: FAU’s defense has struggled near halftime this season, surrendering a long touchdown run to Southern Illinois, nearly getting beat deep twice against FIU and allowing a 38-yard passing touchdown against Charlotte. The 49ers score, defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni said, could be blamed on a safety (video showed Andrew Soroh to be the closest to the play) who missed an assignment. “It almost seems like they are laying off the pedal, their minds are already in the locker room, but that’s just from an outside perspective,” said FAU DE Trey Hendrickson, referring to why his teammates continue to struggle late. “Your answer is as good as mine. It has to be lack of focus and doing their job.”
Middle Man: FAU middle linebacker Jacob Douglas, a sophomore, has shaken off an undisclosed injury suffered in the season’s opening game and is seeing his game action increase. With starter Nate Ozdemir injured against Charlotte, Douglas took over in the second half. Even if Ozdemir is back to 100 percent on Saturday, look for more of Douglas. “”He’s a good football player and we need to get him in there more,” Bellantoni said.
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