10-13-2004, 12:39 PM
Quarterback Josh Cribbs a dynamic force for flashes
By ANTHONY HANSHEW - The Herald-Dispatch
Randy Snyder/The Herald-Dispatch
Kent State quarterback Josh Cribbs, left, will have to avoid Marshall senior defensive end Jonathan Goddard, right, and the rest of the Thundering Herd defense if he hopes to lead the Golden Flashes to a victory on Saturday in Kent, Ohio.
HUNTINGTON -- Marshall’s defense is preparing for another "aggravating" afternoon of football.
Kent State is Saturday’s opponent, meaning the Thundering Herd will have one final opportunity to slow down dynamic quarterback Joshua Cribbs. The senior produced big plays in each of his three previous meetings with Marshall, but last year’s performance bordered on historic.
Cribbs threw for three touchdowns, including a 97-yarder, caught a 29-yard touchdown pass and hurdled a Marshall defender on a spectacular 10-yard scoring run. He became the first NCAA Division I-A player in three years to run, receive and pass for a touchdown in a game.
Marshall won, 49-33, behind Stan Hill’s five touchdown passes, but Cribbs’ display of versatility left quite an impression.
"I was in shock," Marshall linebacker Dionte Wilson said of Cribbs’ TD run last year. "I was running over there and I saw him jump over someone. I was coming at an angle and I hesitated. I didn’t think he was going to make it and when he hit the ground I got there late. It was just an amazing play."
Cribbs cleared cornerback Roberto Terrell en route to the end zone, capping one of the best performances ever at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Terrell expects more of the same on Saturday. Kickoff between the Herd (2-3, 2-0) and Golden Flashes (1-5, 0-3) at Dix Stadium is 4 p.m. and WSAZ will televise the game.
"Oh man, it’s going to be aggravating this week," Terrell said. "It’s like sandlot ball out there with that man. Receivers are running around in the open. He’s running around in the open. It’s going to be tough."
Last week Cribbs became just the second Kent State player to surpass 6,000 passing yards and 500 completions in a 47-27 loss to Miami (Ohio). He also topped 9,000 career total yards, a feat accomplished by just seven other Mid-American Conference players.
Cribbs and former Air Force quarterback Dee Dowis are the only I-A players ever to reach 1,000 yards passing and rushing in a season twice. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound signal-caller became the first freshman to complete the double-double and he’s nearly on pace to accomplish the feat a third time.
He has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,081 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions. Cribbs is also Kent State’s leading rusher with 342 yards on 92 carries.
"Really for three years now we haven’t been able to find a way to handle him," Marshall head coach Bobby Pruett said. "He’s a very talented, game-changing athlete. He’s as game-changing an athlete as (Marshall defensive end Jonathan) Goddard is on defense, every bit as much.
"They do some really good things with him. They surround him with some good athletes. If you go up there and think you’re going to shut him down I think you’re wishful thinking.
"He’s always jumped up and played well against us. I hope we can do a better job this year than we have the last couple."
Wilson, a Largo, Md., native, watched Cribbs emerge as a prep standout when he making plays at Washington D.C.’s Dunbar High School. The senior linebacker, who ranks fourth among Thundering Herd defenders with 34 tackles, said he’s appreciated Cribbs’ talents for several years.
"He’s just elevated his game so much," Wilson said. "With our defense we have a lot of senior leadership and we’ve all played against him since we’ve been here. You know what to expect and we have great pursuit to the ball."
Essentially, Saturday figures to feature a speed versus speed matchup. Cribbs simply can lose defenders in the open field, even when they have proper angles, and Marshall’s defense thrives with its ability to pursue.
"I think we have a good chance with him," said Terrell, one of Marshall’s fastest defenders. "Our line and our linebackers are so athletic. It’s going to be hard. He’s going to have to come ready to play.
"We’re going to do a little bit of everything to try to stop him. We’re going to throw some things at him to try to confuse him and get him to sit in the pocket and throw the ball. We feel we have a good chance."
By ANTHONY HANSHEW - The Herald-Dispatch
Randy Snyder/The Herald-Dispatch
Kent State quarterback Josh Cribbs, left, will have to avoid Marshall senior defensive end Jonathan Goddard, right, and the rest of the Thundering Herd defense if he hopes to lead the Golden Flashes to a victory on Saturday in Kent, Ohio.
HUNTINGTON -- Marshall’s defense is preparing for another "aggravating" afternoon of football.
Kent State is Saturday’s opponent, meaning the Thundering Herd will have one final opportunity to slow down dynamic quarterback Joshua Cribbs. The senior produced big plays in each of his three previous meetings with Marshall, but last year’s performance bordered on historic.
Cribbs threw for three touchdowns, including a 97-yarder, caught a 29-yard touchdown pass and hurdled a Marshall defender on a spectacular 10-yard scoring run. He became the first NCAA Division I-A player in three years to run, receive and pass for a touchdown in a game.
Marshall won, 49-33, behind Stan Hill’s five touchdown passes, but Cribbs’ display of versatility left quite an impression.
"I was in shock," Marshall linebacker Dionte Wilson said of Cribbs’ TD run last year. "I was running over there and I saw him jump over someone. I was coming at an angle and I hesitated. I didn’t think he was going to make it and when he hit the ground I got there late. It was just an amazing play."
Cribbs cleared cornerback Roberto Terrell en route to the end zone, capping one of the best performances ever at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Terrell expects more of the same on Saturday. Kickoff between the Herd (2-3, 2-0) and Golden Flashes (1-5, 0-3) at Dix Stadium is 4 p.m. and WSAZ will televise the game.
"Oh man, it’s going to be aggravating this week," Terrell said. "It’s like sandlot ball out there with that man. Receivers are running around in the open. He’s running around in the open. It’s going to be tough."
Last week Cribbs became just the second Kent State player to surpass 6,000 passing yards and 500 completions in a 47-27 loss to Miami (Ohio). He also topped 9,000 career total yards, a feat accomplished by just seven other Mid-American Conference players.
Cribbs and former Air Force quarterback Dee Dowis are the only I-A players ever to reach 1,000 yards passing and rushing in a season twice. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound signal-caller became the first freshman to complete the double-double and he’s nearly on pace to accomplish the feat a third time.
He has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,081 yards and seven touchdowns with three interceptions. Cribbs is also Kent State’s leading rusher with 342 yards on 92 carries.
"Really for three years now we haven’t been able to find a way to handle him," Marshall head coach Bobby Pruett said. "He’s a very talented, game-changing athlete. He’s as game-changing an athlete as (Marshall defensive end Jonathan) Goddard is on defense, every bit as much.
"They do some really good things with him. They surround him with some good athletes. If you go up there and think you’re going to shut him down I think you’re wishful thinking.
"He’s always jumped up and played well against us. I hope we can do a better job this year than we have the last couple."
Wilson, a Largo, Md., native, watched Cribbs emerge as a prep standout when he making plays at Washington D.C.’s Dunbar High School. The senior linebacker, who ranks fourth among Thundering Herd defenders with 34 tackles, said he’s appreciated Cribbs’ talents for several years.
"He’s just elevated his game so much," Wilson said. "With our defense we have a lot of senior leadership and we’ve all played against him since we’ve been here. You know what to expect and we have great pursuit to the ball."
Essentially, Saturday figures to feature a speed versus speed matchup. Cribbs simply can lose defenders in the open field, even when they have proper angles, and Marshall’s defense thrives with its ability to pursue.
"I think we have a good chance with him," said Terrell, one of Marshall’s fastest defenders. "Our line and our linebackers are so athletic. It’s going to be hard. He’s going to have to come ready to play.
"We’re going to do a little bit of everything to try to stop him. We’re going to throw some things at him to try to confuse him and get him to sit in the pocket and throw the ball. We feel we have a good chance."