DETROIT — Martin Ward's tackle-breaking run and powerful plunge along with a punt return gave Marshall a big lead over Ohio in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

Did Ward think it was going to be easy?

"Yeah, pretty much," he acknowledged.

Not quite.

The Bobcats rallied to pull within four points late in the third quarter and had chances to complete the comeback in the fourth, missing a wide-open receiver on a trick play and failing to take advantage of their last two drives before losing 21-17 to Marshall yesterday.

DeQuan Bembry's interception with 40 seconds remaining sealed the victory for the Thundering Herd (7-6).

"It was just a relief," Bembry said.

The Bobcats (9-5) rallied with Shannon Ballard's 75-yard return off a fumble in the second quarter, Terrence McCrae's TD catch and Matt Weller's field goal.

"Our players played hard throughout the course of the second half," said Ohio coach Frank Solich, the former Nebraska coach. "But for whatever reason, we were not ready to go at the beginning of the game."

The game looked like it was going to be a rout when Ward's 2-yard run put Marshall ahead 21-0 with 7:21 left in the first half. He earlier scored on a 12-yard run and Andre Booker had 58-yard punt return for a touchdown at the end of the first quarter.

Just when it appeared to be over, Ballard returned a fumble 75 yards to give Ohio a much-needed spark. The Bobcats carried the momentum into the second half, when Theo Scott connected with McCrae on an 8-yard pass midway through the third quarter.

Weller's 46-yard field goal made it 21-17 with 4:38 left in the third.

Ohio drove to the Marshall 12 — helped by two late-hit penalties against the Herd — but stalled and missed a field goal that would have pulled the Bobcats within a point early in the fourth quarter.

NOTES

Sarah Thomas made history at the Pizza Bowl yesterday, becoming the first woman to officiate a bowl game when she worked the matchup between Ohio and Marshall as a line judge.

Thomas is one of five women officiating in major college football, but Pizza Bowl spokesman Tim Moore said she was the first to draw an assignment for a Bowl Subdivision postseason game.

"It was an honor," Thomas said while running off the field with her colleagues after Marshall's 21-17 victory at Ford Field.

"I noticed her before the game, but that was it," said Marshall running back Martin Ward, the game's MVP. "It didn't matter that she was a woman at all."

OHIO 0 7 10 0 — 17

MARSHALL 14 7 0 0 — 21

First Quarter

Mar—Ward 12 run (Ratanamorn kick), 1:17.

Mar—And.Booker 58 punt return (Ratanamorn kick), :00.

Second Quarter

Mar—Ward 2 run (Ratanamorn kick), 7:21.

Ohio—Ballard 75 fumble return (Weller kick), 5:25.

Third Quarter

Ohio—McCrae 8 pass from Th.Scott (Weller kick), 7:11.

Ohio—FG Weller 46, 4:38.

A—30,311.

          Ohio Mar

First downs 10 15

Rushes-yards 24-12 46-190

Passing 111 85

Comp-Att-Int 14-27-1 12-17-0

Return Yards 4 58

Punts-Avg. 5-40.4 6-28.3

Fumbles-Lost 2-1 1-1

Penalties-Yards 3-39 6-70

Time of Possession 23:52 36:08

RUSHING—Ohio, Garrett 10-30, Brazill 3-7, Davidson 1-1, Team 1-(minus 1), Th.Scott 9-(minus 25). Marshall, Marshall 20-77, Ward 9-72, Anderson 6-17, P.Taylor 3-15, Edwards-Maye 4-5, Arrington 1-3, And.Booker 1-2, Smith 1-0, Team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING—Ohio, Th.Scott 14-26-1-111, Brazill 0-1-0-0. Marshall, Anderson 12-17-0-85.

RECEIVING—Ohio, T.Price 4-49, Brazill 3-13, Goulet 2-33, McCrae 2-11, Bussey 1-6, Harden 1-0, Garrett 1-(minus 1). Marshall, C.Walker 4-35, A.Wilson 3-18, Smith 2-29, Marshall 2-2, Ward 1-1.