1970 team won its final game at Fairfield Stadium

QB Bob Harris passed for 100 yards vs. Kent State.

       The 1970 Marshall football team suffered a gut-wrenching defeat in the last game it would ever play – a 17-14 road loss to East Carolina.

       What’s often overlooked is that a week before the November 14^th plane crash, the Thundering Herd gave the crowd at Fairfield Stadium much to cheer about with a 20-17 comeback win over Kent State. It was the Herd’s final home game for that season.

       The victory, which snapped a four-game losing streak, generated renewed optimism that Marshall was due to experience better days. MU’s record improved to 3-5 with two games left on the schedule. If the Herd could post back-to-back road wins, it would guarantee a break-even season. Pulling that off would have been a coupe of sorts. Marshall had not finished a season at .500 or better since 1965.

       Joe Hood led a revived ground attack that chewed up the Golden Flashes for 232 rushing yards. Hood, a gifted sophomore, finished with 122 yards on 24 carries. He scored what proved to be the game-winner on a 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. The Herd trailed 14-10 at the half.

       Backup quarterback Bob Harris, in the third start of his varsity career, connected on 10 of 18 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown. Place-kicker Marcello Lajterman added two field goals.

       Cornerback Larry Sanders led the defense with 12 tackles. Tom Brown and Art Shannon finished with 10 tackles each.