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Western Mich (7-4) at No.11 Marshall (11-0)          8:00 pm EST
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HUNTINGTON, West Virginia (Ticker) -- The only thing standing
between No. 11 Marshall and an undefeated regular season is
Western Michigan. 

The Thundering Herd host Western Michigan with the Mid-American
Conference championship on the line tonight. 

Marshall has won all 11 of its games, including a 31-17 victory
over the Broncos (7-4) on November 13, to easily win the MAC
East.  The Thundering Herd won every MAC game by double figures
and are a three-touchdown favorite. 

Marshall is trying to win the MAC for a third time in as many
seasons at the Division I-A level.  The former I-AA powerhouse
was 10-3 in 1997, losing in the Motor City Bowl, then went 12-1
last season with a win in that postseason game. 

Marshall might still be holding out hopes to reach a better
bowl, but at worst would get to the Motor City Bowl again with a
victory.  Marshall is ranked 12th in the Bowl Championship
Series ratings.  That is the lowest they can be to remain in
consideration for one of the lucrative BCS games. 

Because of the lack of exposure of the MAC, the Thundering Herd
are not grouped with other national powers.  But they have the
longest winning streak in Division I-A -- 16 games -- and are
trying for the sixth unbeaten regular season in school history. 

Record-setting quarterback Chad Pennington heads the list of
standouts that gave Marshall half of the spots on the MAC's
all-conference team.  Pennington ranks third in the nation in
passing efficiency and would lead the nation if he throws two or
more touchdown passes.  He has 34 scoring throws this season,
one less than Tim Rattay of Louisiana Tech. 

Pennington helps Marshall average 37.1 points and 328.8 passing
yards per game.  That does not bode well for a Western Michigan
defense that yields more than 400 yards per contest. 

Western Michigan's only chance of reaching the postseason is
winning this game.  After a 7-2 start that included a 6-0 mark
in the conference, the Broncos had the West won by October 30.
Since then, they have fallen to Marshall and were whipped,
45-21, at Toledo on November 20. 

The Broncos are trying for the third eight-win season and MAC
title in school history.  They earned a share of the league
crown in 1966 and won it outright in 1988, when they went to the
California Bowl, falling 35-30 to San Jose State. 

Western Michigan's only other postseason appearance came in
1961, when it dropped a 28-12 decision to New Mexico in the only
Aviation Bowl ever played. 

Since the Aviation Bowl no longer is in existence, that name
might be applied to this game, considering Pennington and his
counterpart, the Broncos' Tim Lester. 

Lester ranks ninth nationally in passing efficiency and has 32
scoring passes, holding an outside shot at passing Pennington
and Rattay for the lead.  Both Lester and Pennington have
completed 255 passes, but Lester needed 429 attempts, 55 more
than the Herd quarterback.  Pennington also has 3,515 yards, 158
better than Lester. 

In their first showdown this season, Pennington completed
27-of-40 passes for 339 yards with two touchdowns, while Lester
was 24-of-43 for 193 yards with one touchdown and two
interceptions. 

It was only the second win for Marshall in its last 18 meetings
with Western Michigan.  The Thundering Herd still trail the
overall series, 21-8. 

st 12-03-99 15:49 et