1992 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game

The participants of the Championship Game were the finalists of the 1992 I-AA Playoffs, which began with a 16-team bracket.^[4] The site of the title game, Marshall University Stadium, had been predetermined months earlier.^[5]

Youngstown State Penguins

See also: 1992 Youngstown State Penguins football team

Youngstown State finished their regular season with an 8–2–1 record.^[6] Unseeded in the tournament and ranked seventh in the final NCAA I-AA in-house poll,^[7] the Penguins defeated Villanova, second-seed The Citadel, and third-seed Northern Iowa to reach the final. This was the second appearance, both consecutively and overall, for Youngstown State in a Division I-AA championship game, having won in 1991.

Marshall Thundering Herd

Main article: 1992 Marshall Thundering Herd football team

Marshall finished their regular season with an 8–3 record (5–2 in conference).^[8] Unseeded and ranked sixth in the final NCAA I-AA in-house poll,^[7] the Thundering Herd defeated Eastern Kentucky, fourth-seed Middle Tennessee, and Delaware to reach the final. This was the third appearance overall, and second consecutively, for Marshall in a Division I-AA championship game, having lost in 1987 and 1991.

After a scoreless first quarter, Marshall led 14–0 at halftime, and extended their lead to 28–0 with 5:46 left in the third quarter. Youngstown State then rallied, cutting the lead to 28–14 by the end of the third quarter, and tying the game with 2:28 left in the fourth quarter. Marshall then drove from their 19-yard-line to the Youngstown State 5-yard-line, and senior kicker Willy Merrick made a 22-yard-field goal with seven seconds left to play, providing the winning points for Marshall.^[9] It was Merrick's first collegiate field goal, as the team's usual kicker, Merrick's sophomore brother David, was suspended for the game due to missing a practice.^[10]

Scoring summary

More information Scoring summary, Quarter ...

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP YSU MU 2 10:33 MU Mike Bartrum 6-yard touchdown reception from Michael Payton, Willy Merrick kick good 0 7 2 3:30 7 28 MU Orlando Hatchett 5-yard touchdown run, Merrick kick good 0 14 3 MU Glenn Pedro 1-yard touchdown run, Merrick kick good 0 21 3 5:46 MU Hatchett 22-yard touchdown reception from Payton, Merrick kick good 0 28 3 3:41 57 2:05 YSU Herb Williams 30-yard touchdown reception from Nick Cochran, Jeff Wilkins kick good 7 28 3 0:16 65 0:40 YSU Tamron Smith 4-yard touchdown run, Wilkins kick good 14 28 4 12:04 4 49 1:19 YSU Smith 1-yard touchdown run, Wilkins kick good 21 28 4 2:28 YSU Smith 10-yard touchdown run, Wilkins kick good 28 28 4 0:07 76 MU 22-yard field goal by Merrick 28 31 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 28 31

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Game statistics

More information Total ...

	1	2	3	4	Total
Penguins	0	0	14	14	28
Thundering Herd	0	14	14	3	31

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More information Statistics, YSU ...

Statistics	YSU	MU
First downs	17	26
Plays–yards	65–372	82–455
Rushes–yards	34–116	42–185
Passing yards	256	270
Passing: comp–att–int	18–31–1	25–40–2
Turnovers
Time of possession	27:57	32:03

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More information Team, Category ...

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Youngstown State	Passing	Nick Cochran	18–31, 256 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Tamron Smith	20 car, 82 yds, 3 TD
	Receiving	Herb Williams	5 rec, 105 yds, 1 TD
Marshall	Passing	Michael Payton	25–39, 270 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Orlando Hatchett	15 car, 112 yds, 1 TD
	Receiving	Troy Brown	10 rec, 115 yds

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