HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The MVP in the Conference USA championship game was clear, and it wasn’t Rakeem Cato, Neville Hewitt or any other well-known name on the Thundering Herd’s roster.
Instead it was kicker Justin Haig, who made 4-of-4 field goal attempts in critical junctures as Marshall came from behind to beat Louisiana Tech 26-23 on Saturday.
“I told Haig that I had never heard of a kicker getting MVP,” joked coach Doc Holliday. “I’m glad he did. He is special. He hadn’t done that all year but he did it when it mattered. He is just another example of a senior on the football team who is playing his best football right now. That is the best game he has had since he has been here and to do it during a championship means a lot.”
Haig hit field goals from 24, 40, 40 and 46 yards on day when the rain and wind were whipping around Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
“Conditions today were very challenging. Its definitely not an ideal situation when its raining, 40 degrees and windy,” said Haig. “Matt Cincotta and Tyler Williams did a great job putting the ball down and the o-line did a great job as well.”
The 46-yarder at the end of the first half may have been the difference maker in Marshall’s win. Trailing 17-10, Marshall got the ball back with just 19 seconds remaining in the half. Rakeem Cato connected with Craig Wilkins for an 11-yard gain and Remi Watson sprang free for a 29-yard run to give Haig a shot at a 46-yard field goal with just second left in the half.
Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz called a timeout just as the ball was snapped in an effort to ice Marshall’s kicker. Haig got the kick off and missed his first attempt.
“It’s cold out, so an extra practice rep for me to get loose is great,” admitted Haig. “I just went in there and whipped it and tried to kick it as hard as I could to get loose. Then on the actual kick, I could focus in on my accuracy.”
On the second try, Haig was perfect and Marshall cut the deficit to four points going into the locker room.
In the end the difference in the game turned out to be three points.
Haig’s four field goals was a C-USA championship record and Haig’s single-game high. The last Herd kicker to hit four field goals in a game was Billy Malashevich at Miami (Ohio) in 1999.
Asked if he thought he’d be remembered with the likes of Herd kicker Willy Merrick, whose only field goal won the 1992 I-AA national championship, Haig just grinned and said, “That sounds pretty good.”