▶ Kevin Marks’ TD gives Buffalo a 17-0 win over Marshall in the Camellia Bowl.
Sub running back scores winning TD with 1:09 to play
Kevin Marks looked like a super sub early, stalled against a stingy defense and then delivered the decisive blow.
Marks scored on a 1yard touchdown run with 1:09 left after a clock-eating drive and Buffalo made a final defensive stop to beat Marshall 17-10 in the Camellia Bowl on Friday.
Subbing for the national leader in rushing yards per game, Jaret Patterson, Marks carried 35 time for 138 yards for the Bulls (6-1) against one of the nation’s top run defenses.
Buffalo milked more than six minutes off the clock on the final 13-play, 88-yard drive. Quarterback Kyle Vantrease took a knee on first down and coach Lance Leipold even considered calling for a second one for a team that had made only its first field goal of the season in the first half.
“Obviously. we needed every second we could get
there toward the end,” Leipold said.
Grant Wells then took Marshall (7-3), which had rallied from a 10-0 deficit, to the Buffalo 20 with no timeouts. Kadofi Wright’s sack helped force a fourthand-11 and Eric Black added his second sack to end the threat.
Both teams lost their conference championship games.
Buffalo improved to 2-3 in bowls, also beating Charlotte in the 2019 Bahamas Bowl. Marshall dropped its final three games after a 7-0 start and No. 15 ranking.
“We just didn’t make enough plays offensively the last three weeks,” Marshall coach Doc Holliday said.
Heisman finalists
Alabama teammates Mac Jones and Devonta Smith along with Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Florida’s Kyle Trask were named finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Thursday night. The Heisman will be awarded Jan. 5 during a virtual ceremony. The coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of the usual trip to New York for the trophy presentation that comes with being a finalist.