Ohio and Marshall combined for a relatively modest (by their terms) 27 points. The teams combined for _ yards as Ohio led Marshall 17-10 going into the half.
Rakeem Cato led first Marshall scoring drive, completing 5-5 passes with the drive culminating in a one-yard Kevin Grooms leaping touchdown.
Cato played efficiently in the first half, completing 15-25 passes for 193 yards. Cato progressed through his reads and more often than not found open receivers or intermediate gains. Cato tossed up a few long balls that were well defended by Bobcat defenders.
Ohio failed to get much of a push from the O-Line, with most of their rushing in the first coming when Derrius Vick came in at quarterback and operated the zone-read. The 'cats have utilized the zone-read in much of Tyler Tettleton's time in Athens, but seem to have gone away from letting the Senior quarterback keep it around end.
Beau Blankenship and Ryan Boykin would only combine for 15 yards in the half.
Marshall easily outperformed Ohio in terms of first downs, racking up 16 of them compared to the 'Cats 6. Marshall also outgained Ohio 273 to 127 as far total yardage goes.
TE Troy Hill, who came into the game with no receptions, caught four for 44 yards in the half.
Tettleton was also sacked for first time vs Marshall in his career by James Rouse.
Marshall lost two fumbles in the first quarter.
After the Bobcats put up three on a 32-yard Matt Green field goal, Steward Butler for the Herd fumbled the ball on the ensuing kickoff. Someone ran into the ball, which skipped to the back of the end zone. Toran Davis fell on the ball and after the XP, Ohio had a 17-7 lead.