The Associated Press

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Stan Hill almost made Marshall fans forget about Byron Leftwich. The sophomore quarterback, subbing for the injured Heisman Trophy candidate, threw four touchdown passes and scored on a 1-yard run with 5 seconds left for a 36-34 victory over the Miami Redhawks Tuesday night.

Marshall quarterback Stan Hill leaps past a Miami defender for the winning touchdown. (AP Photo/Randy Snyder) | ZOOM |

It was a hearbreaking loss for Miami, playing its first game on national television. The RedHawks (7-4, 5-2 in the Mid-American Conference) lost its hold on a spot in the conference championship game.

Marshall (7-2, 5-1 ) can win its sixth straight East Division title since rejoining the league with a victory over Ohio on Nov. 23. The East Division winner will host the conference championship game on Dec. 7.

"One thing we say around here is that we play for championships, and tonight our kids played their hearts out," said Marshall coach Bob Pruett.

Ben Roethlisberger twice brought Miami (7-4, 5-2) back from double-digit deficits, and Luke Clemens' 17-yard TD run gave the RedHawks a 34-29 lead with 6:33 left.

Marshall defenders sack Miami QB Ben Roethlisberger. (AP Photo/Randy Snyder) | ZOOM |

Leftwich, who hurt his left shin against Akron on Nov. 2, did not dress for the game. And that left it up to Hill, a sophomore masking his first career start.

Marshall got the ball back for the final time with 1:39 left at its 43.

Hill completed three straight passes, then ran 7 yards to the Miami 16.

After a dropped pass in the end zone by Darius Watts - who caught three TD passes from Hill - a pair of interference calls against Miami put the ball at the 1, setting up Hill's run.

"It was either throw it away or get it into the end zone, because coach (Bob) Pruett told me one thing not to do and that was take a sack," Hill said.

Without Leftwich, Marshall managed 400 total yards. The Thundering Herd began the day leading the nation in total offense with 531 yards.

Roethlisberger throws under pressure. (AP Photo/Randy Snyder) | ZOOM |

Leftwich still was able to give Hill some timely advice.

"You can't ask for anything more than a Heisman Trophy candidate walking you through it," Hill said. "He talked to me all week and coached through the game. He told me what I was doing right and told me what I was doing wrong."

Hill was 25-of-39 for 292 yards as Marshall beat the RedHawks for the fifth straight time.

With 11 minutes left and Marshall ahead 29-27, Hill was intercepted on fourth down at the Miami 30.

Miami then drove for the go-ahead touchdown, with Clemens taking an option pitch from Roethlisberger and scoring down the right sideline.

Hill threw TD passes of 5 and 11 yards to Watts on Marshall's first two series of the second half for a 29-17 lead.

Less than a minute later, Clemens caught a screen pass from Roethlisberger and broke three tackles for a 49-yard TD.

Jared Parseghian, the great nephew of Miami and Notre Dame coaching great Ara Parseghian, kicked a 21-yard field goal late in the third quarter to pull the RedHawks within 29-27. It was Parseghian's 16th consecutive field goal, breaking the conference record held by Ball State's Brent Lockliear in 1996-97.

Roethlisberger was 16-of-33 for 247 yards and three TDs. He was intercepted on the game's first series by Orlando Washington, who returned the ball to the Miami 6.

After Butchie Wallace was tackled for a 5-yard loss, Hill threw his first pass of the game to a diving Watts for an 11-yard score.

Hill and Watts teamed up on a 29-yard completion to set up Hill's second TD toss of the game, a 10-yarder for a 17-3 lead on the first play of the second quarter.

But Marshall punted on its next two drives and Miami took over near midfield both times.

Roethlisberger threw scoring strikes of 32 yards into double coverage to Jason Branch and 13 yards to Randy Stegman to tie it at 17 at halftime.

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