My take-aways on Camellia Bowl 2020

Herd quarterback Grant Wells moved his team downfield
in the waning seconds. But Buffalo's defense responded 
with two sacks to preserve the victory.
(Photo by Jake Crandall/Montgomery Advertiser)

A few days have passed since Marshall's football season ended with a third straight setback. Understandably, it was not a joyous scene. But that's hardly sufficient reason for fans of the Big Green to embrace the notion that the future is bleak.

Here's my take on what I saw on Christmas Day when the Thundering Herd came up empty in a 17-10 loss to Buffalo in the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The final outcome was a bit different from what I anticipated.

The outlook was not very favorable for the Herd. Aside from having three of its premier players opt out of the game (to get ready for the NFL), the team was on a downward spiral. Prior to the bowl game, MU suffered head-scratching back-to-back losses.

On Christmas Day, Marshall's Thundering Herd  was its own worst enemy. Yet, they still had a legitimate shot to force overtime or win the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion. It was a minor miracle that Marshall managed to stay in contention.

Consider these stumbling blocks that MU managed to deal with for the bowl game.  

• Six starters did not play.
• Three consecutive bone-headed plays on special teams -- disastrous and downright bizarre.
• Lack of offensive diversity. The Herd needed to get more production from its air game (114 passing yards was not nearly enough). 
• Soft pass coverage combined with a non-existent pass rush spelled doom. Over four quarters, Buffalo quarterback Kyle Vantrease rarely faced any semblance of defensive pressure.

Even so, defense proved to be the Herd's saving grace. Buffalo (47.8 points and 309 rushing yards per game) was held far below its eye-popping season averages.

Now, allow me to put the spotlight on Grant Wells, the Marshall quarterback who has received boat loads of blame for the Herd's recent offensive slide. In my humble opinion, I say it's time for all detractors to exercise some radio silence and acknowledge what transpired in the game's closing moments.

Wells, a redshirt freshman, is not a finished product by a long shot. No.8 is still subject to growing pains, indecisiveness and bad judgement just like any other up and coming QB. The maturation continues.

 Marshall DB Steven Gilmore
breaks up pass intended
for Buffalo WR Trevor Wilson.
(Photo by
Jake Crandall/
Montgomery Advertiser)

Given all that Marshall did to shoot itself in the hoof, Wells -- with no timeouts and 1:09 left to play -- scrambled for a first down and completed three passes to put his team in the red zone. With 30 seconds to go in regulation, the Herd had a first-and-10 at Buffalo's 20-yard line.

But the Herd would get no closer. On third and fourth down plays, Wells was sacked to end the game. What happened in those waning seconds has more to do with game experience as opposed to lack of skill or game smarts.

As Wells logs more crunch-time game experience, he'll develop a keener sense for pressure. He'll learn to bolt from the pocket earlier so he can buy enough time to extend plays. Acquiring that skill set, however, cannot be done in scrimmages. Getting tested under actual game conditions is the only way.

With Wells, there's so much upside. No need to fret about his first bowl game. The kid will continue to grow. He'll be fine.

MVP trophy went to the wrong player

I do understand the logic in picking Buffalo RB Kevin Marks as the Camellia Bowl MVP. Marks, subbing for the nation's leading rusher Jaret Patterson (injured knee), scored the game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard run with a little over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Marks finished with a game-high 138 rushing yards.

Coming down the stretch, Kyle Vantrease was the
 prime factor for the Buffalo Bulls.
(Photo by Jake Crandall/Montgomery Advertiser)

But ... when I consider the context of the game, Marks can't be that guy. Yes, he scored the game-winner. But keep in mind that Marshall let him score so that its offense would have enough time to put together a final drive. The Herd made it interesting, but just couldn't add the finishing touches at the end.

Marks did all of his damage in the first half with 110 rushing yards. Over the final 30 minutes, however, the Herd clamped down and Marks was a non-factor.

The MVP should have been Vantrease (completed 16 of 27 passes for 140 yards). Yeah, his passing stats are hardly spectacular. Still, there's no denying that when his team needed it most, he delivered.

On Buffalo's game-winning drive, Vantrease connected twice with wide receiver Antonio Nunn. The first hook-up was a 26-yard pass play that put the Bulls in the red zone. Two plays later, Vantrease threw a 12-yard pass to Nunn on a post route which set the stage for Mark's short-yardage TD run.

-Craig T. Greenlee