HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Bryon Leftwich threw three first-half touchdown passes as Marshall beat Miami 51-31 on Saturday night to clinch a berth in the Mid-American Conference title game.

        Marshall (6-4, 5-2 MAC) won the East Division for the fourth straight year. The West Division winner will be decided next week between Western Michigan and Toledo, and the championship game will be Dec.2 at Huntington, W.Va.

        Miami (5-5, 4-3) lost its fourth-straight road game and the RedHawks also lost quarterback Mike Bath late in the game to a sprained a knee he suffered while tackling Max Yates on a 28-yard interception return. He was 19-of-36 passing for 253 yards.

        Bath had a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and an 8-yard TD pass to Ty Buxton in the fourth.

        But even with Bath, Miami couldn't catch up to Marshall, which jumped out to a fast lead. The Herd's no-huddle offense ran up 37 points and 408 yards in the first half and coasted from there. So did its defense, which allowed 28 points and 285 yards in the second half after holding Miami to just a field goal before halftime.

        Miami ....... 3 0 7 21—31

        Marshall ....... 20 17 0 14—51

        First Quarter

        Mar—Wallace 55 run (Jenkins kick), 11:34.

        Mar—Poole 12 pass from Leftwich (Jenkins kick), 9:05.

        Mia—FG Brumbergs 34, 6:10.

        Mar—FG Jenkins 29, 4:37.

        Mar—FG Jenkins 21, 0:37.

        Second Quarter

        Mar—FG Jenkins 31, 10:35.

        Mar—Wallace 70 pass from Leftwich (Jenkins kick), 5:35.

        Mar—Watts 11 pass from Leftwich (Jenkins kick), 3:09.

        Third Quarter

        Mia—Bath 1 run (Brumbergs kick), 1:30.

        Fourth Quarter

        Mar—Buggs 2 run (Jenkins kick), 14:20.

        Mia—Little 13 run (Brumbergs kick), 13:00.

        Mia—Buxton 8 pass from Bath (Brumbergs kick), 7:28.

        Mar—Leftwich 1 run (Jenkins kick), 5:36.

        Mia—Branch 23 pass from Schacke (Brumbergs kick), 0:49.

        A—30,419.

        INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

        RUSHING—Miami, Little 22-103, Murray 8-36, Bath 13-36, Robinson 4-7, Hawk 2-3. Marshall, Wallace 9-116, Coke 10-43, Rodgers 5-18, Cooper 1-12, Leftwich 9-9, Buggs 3-5, Galbraith 3-(minus 7).

        PASSING—Miami, Bath 19-36-2-253, Schacke 2-2-0-30, Hawk 0-1-0-0. Marshall, Leftwich 21-33-0-290.

        RECEIVING—Miami, Branch 7-86, Henry 5-63, Johnson 3-62, Sullivan 3-42, Buxton 2-13, Murray 1-17. Marshall, Poole 9-123, L.Washington 5-54, Foye 3-21, Wallace 1-70, Watts 1-11, Cowan 1-11, Jones 1-0.

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