HUNTINGTON, W.Va., Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Byron Leftwich tossed three touchdown passes Saturday night as 20th-ranked Marshall tuned up for next week's Mid-American Conference championship game with a 38-24 victory over Youngstown State.
Leftwich gave Marshall a 31-24 lead by tossing a 14-yard pass to Josh Davis with 12:43 remaining in the fourth quarter before the Thundering Herd turned back Youngstown State with a goal-line stand in the final minutes.
Marshall (10-1) clinched the win on Roberto Terrell's 76-yard interception return for a touchdown with 11 seconds to play.
The former Division I-AA rivals were meeting for the first time since the early 1990s, when they played in the Division I-AA championship game three straight years. Youngstown State won two of those contests.
The Thundering Herd have won 10 straight since a season-opening loss to Florida and will face Toledo in the MAC championship game.
PJ Mays rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries for Youngstown State (8-3), which is ranked sixth in the Division I-AA poll and likely is headed to the playoffs.
