ORLANDO - Marshall quarterback Graham Gochneaur ran 49 yards for a touchdown with 1:44 left, sealing a 21-7 victory Wednesday night and ruining the coaching debut of Central Florida's Alan Gooch.
Butchie Wallace and Earl Charles also had TD runs for Marshall. Gooch took over as interim coach when UCF fired Mike Kruczek a week ago. The Golden Knights' touchdown came on a 55-yard run by freshman quarterback Steve Moffett in the fourth, and they were held to 170 yards.
The Thundering Herd dominated the first half, but could not sustain a drive and needed a 70-yard punt return from Chris Royal to set up their first TD. Royal appeared on his way to a 77-yard TD return when punter Matt Prater dragged him down at the 7.
Wallace scored on the next play to make it 7-0 with 1:43 left in the first quarter. The Knights had 80 yards in the first half. Their only scoring threat of the half ended when Moffett fumbled a snap on fourth and inches from the Marshall 3.
Marshall, which entered averaging 267 yards passing, went to a running attack to score its second touchdown. Charles went over on a 2-yard burst on the final play of the third quarter to cap a 10-play, 76-yard drive.
Miami QB still a mystery
CORAL GABLES - Coach Larry Coker will wait at least another day to name his starting quarterback. Coker said he had not made a decision between the accurate-passing but error-prone Brock Berlin or the fleet-footed Derrick Crudup. He said the announcement would come by Friday morning.
The No. 13 Hurricanes host Rutgers on Saturday. If they beat Rutgers and Pittsburgh, the 'Canes will win the Big East title and play in a BCS game. Though both quarterbacks have shared repetitions in practice, much of what Coker has said indicates he is leaning toward starting Berlin.
"You can't go out at this level and experiment too much," Coker said. "You do that in the spring."
Berlin started the first nine games, throwing 14 interceptions, fumbling three times and losing to Virginia Tech and Tennessee. Making his first career start, Crudup completed 5-of-13 for 80 yards and a TD against Syracuse. He was most effective scrambling, gaining 29 yards on 14 carries.
On the injury front, receiver and punt returner Roscoe Parrish will play after missing last week's game because of a sore right knee. Parrish has 22 catches for 277 yards and a touchdown. Coker also said Kellen Winslow and center Joel Rodriguez will return to their starting roles. Both were benched to start last week's game because of excessive penalties.
Meanwhile, Miami will play a home-and-home series with Louisville in 2004 and 2006. They are scheduled to meet in Miami on Oct. 9 and in Louisville on Sept, 16, 2006. The Hurricanes hold an 8-0-1 advantage over the Cardinals.
ARIZONA SEARCH: Arizona is close to hiring a coach, and Oklahoma associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops has emerged as the leading candidate. Stoops, younger brother of Sooners coach Bob Stoops, was interviewed in Oklahoma on Nov. 13 by members of the search committee, Wildcats sports information director Tom Duddleston said. Another interview is scheduled this weekend.
Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood told the Associated Press no one has been offered the job to replace the fired John Mackovic. Three other candidates are to be interviewed this weekend.
Livengood would not confirm the names, but the trio reportedly is Cincinnati Bengals linebackers coach Ricky Hunley, USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow and New York Giants defensive coordinator Johnnie Lynn.
FAN SENTENCED: The fan accused of throwing an object that struck UNLV coach John Robinson during an Oct. 4 game against Nevada pleaded guilty to a battery charge and was sentenced to five days in jail. Kevin Old initially was sentenced to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, but Reno Justice Court Judge Jack Schroeder suspended the sentence. Old also must attend an anger management class and stay off the school campus for a year.
