could feature with Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell also absent through injury. Jonny May could be back

Huntington, WV (SportsNetwork.com) - The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs made it out of the Conference USA West Division with a 7-1 mark in league play, and will travel this weekend to face the Marshall Thundering Herd in the conferences championship clash at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Louisiana Tech breezed through Conference USA competition during the regular season until an overtime loss against Old Dominion in the second-to-last week raised some concerns. But the Bulldogs squashed those feelings with an absolutely dominant 76-31 victory over defending C-USA champion Rice at home to earn a spot in the title game. Marshall had already clinched its spot in the title contest after running through East Division play and earning an unblemished record up until the regular-season finale. Even though the Herds dreams of a perfect record were shattered by Western Kentucky last weekend in a 67-66 loss, the team is still a favorite to take the conference crown. These two conference rivals have met just one time on the football field before this championship matchup - a 26-0 shutout by the Bulldogs back in the 1942 season in Ruston, Louisiana. Its been 72 years since that clash, so this second matchup could be well worth the wait. Louisiana Tech entered this season with high hopes, but it wasnt until the team took the field that fans saw what the Bulldogs were capable of. The strong offense, which averages 38.8 ppg entering the title tilt with Marshall, is led by two of the strongest offensive stars in the league. Running back Kenneth Dixon had a stellar regular season, finishing the campaign with 1,080 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 220 carries. He led the team averaging 90.0 ypg, but also served as a primary target out of the backfield in the passing game. He caught five touchdown receptions and averaged another 25.5 ypg through the air during the season. Dixon is coming off a three-touchdown game against Rice. Cody Sokol took the reins under center and ran with them this season. The signal caller passed for 3,117 yards (ranked 23rd in the FBS) with 29 touchdown tosses. He averaged 259.8 passing ypg in 12 contests, and comes into this game sporting a completion percentage just shy of 60 percent. As an offensive unit, the Bulldogs are gaining 415.2 ypg. Dixon is certainly one of Sokols main weapons through the air, but Trent Taylor has made his mark more than anyone in the passing game. Taylor enters this weekend averaging 67.3 ypg receiving, having caught 61 passes this season for 808 yards and a team-best nine touchdowns. Dixons five receiving scores is second on the squad, while Paul Turner has proven his worth with 38 receptions for 466 yards and four scores through the air. The teams defense will have its hands full as it prepares for a Marshall offense that ranks second in the nation in scoring and total offense. But that hasnt stopped the Bulldogs from doing plenty of damage this season, holding opponents to 349.6 offensive ypg and 25.2 ppg. The same Western Kentucky team that just posted 67 points on Marshalls defense was held to a mere 10 points by Louisiana Tech back on the first day of November, which could be very telling. Kentrell Brice leads the Bulldogs this season with 73 tackles, adding in three sacks, two interceptions and four forced fumbles. But Tony Johnson isnt far behind Brices tackle total with 69 on the season, adding in six quarterback hurries. Linemen Houston Bates (nine tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries) and Vernon Butler (12.5 tackles for loss) are going to need to be very active in trying to get to Marshall quarterback Rakeem Cato and slowing down a high- powered run game. The Bulldogs do lead the nation in takeaways with 36 (12 fumble recoveries, 24 interceptions). This football team is really special to me because I do not know that I have had a football team that has had to overcome so much, with the schedule, new faces, new coaches and everything to make this year work, coach Skip Holtz said. This group of guys is really special. They will always have a special place in my heart. Marshall could be in for a real shock if running back Devon Johnson cant go this weekend after suffering a shoulder injury in last weekends loss to WKU. The tailback carried the ball just three times before he was knocked out of the game and replaced by Steward Butler, who ran for 233 yards and a pair of scores in the relief effort. This season, Johnson has been a monster out of the backfield, gaining 1,602 yards with 16 rushing scores, averaging 145.6 rushing ypg. Its unclear if he will be ready to go this weekend Devon, hes not in real good shape right now, coach Doc Holliday said after the teams loss to the Hilltoppers. Fortunately for Marshall, Butler has rushed for 761 yards and seven touchdowns this season in the reserve role. Cato has been a capable runner as well, scoring six touchdowns with his feet. But the passing game is where Cato excels the most, throwing for 3,314 yards and 35 touchdowns against 12 interceptions (four of which came in last weekends loss). The senior signal caller did toss a school single-game record seven touchdowns in that contest, however. Hes the centerpiece of an offense that is averaging 46.7 ppg and 574.6 offensive ypg. The bottom line is weve got to put (the loss to WKU) behind us because were playing for a championship, Holliday said. And the leadership on this football team has to do a tremendous job of putting this game behind us and moving on because the ultimate goal was to win a championship, and weve still got that out there for us. Defensively, the Herd have been dominant as well. The 67 points allowed to Western Kentucky raised the teams scoring average significantly, and its still at a mere 20.7 ppg. It was the first time all season long that Marshall allowed more than 27 points to a challenger, and just the third time all season the Herd gave up more than 20 points or more in a single game. Linebacker Neville Hewitt leads the team with 100 tackles this season, adding in 10.5 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks. He and lineman Arnold Blackmon (13 tackles for loss, eight sacks, four forced fumbles) will be the two players the Herd turn to in order to slow down Dixon and Sokol. Darryl Roberts (15 pass breakups), Corey Tindal (11 pass breakups) and Taj Letman (four interceptions) will be tasked with keeping the strong Louisiana Tech pass game in check. Discount Vans Shoes Australia .com) - The surprising Calgary Flames host the winless New Jersey Devils at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Friday. Cheap Vans Shoes Online Australia . Kyle Denbrook, a soccer player from Saint Marys University, took the CIS male athlete of the week honour. Stanley, a fourth-year business administration student from Charlottetown, scored both goals in a 2-0 win over Dalhousie on Friday and tallied again in a 1-0 win over Saint Marys on Sunday. http://www.vansaustraliawholesale.com/ . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. Vans Outlet Australia . -- Packers cornerback Tramon Williams has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines. Vans Shoes Wholesale Australia . General Manager Sam Presti said the three-time All-Star had knee swelling that would not subside, and the procedure was intended to solve the problem. He said doctors determined that a loose stitch was to blame for the swelling, that Westbrooks lateral meniscus has healed properly and the procedure was successful.Tom Wood is in line to make his England return after being retained in a 25-man squad for Saturdays clash with South Africa at Twickenhamm live on Sky Sports. The Northampton back-row has not played for his country since Eddie Jones took over as coach, with his last appearance coming against Uruguay at the 2015 Rugby World Cup. England vs South Africa November 12, 2016, 2:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass But Englands injury problems saw Wood return to the squad for their training camp in Portugal last week and he has made the first cut, with nine players having been sent home ahead of Jones naming his team on Thursday. Wood could be battling with uncapped Fiji-born Wasps No 8 Nathan Hughes, who has qualified on residency, for a place in the absence of James Haskell, Jack Clifford, Sam Jones and Mike Williams.Sale lock Josh Beaumont also retains his place, having been added by Jones as a 34th training camp selection because of injury concerns over Courtney Lawes. Ellis Genge has been sent back to the Leicester Tigers Baths Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge of the Leicester Tigers, Gloucester back row Ben Morgan and Northamptons Teimana Harrison are the four forwards sent back to their clubs.Saracens full-back Alex Goode, Sales Mike Haley,, Saracens fly-half Alex Lozowski and Bath winger Semesa Rokoduguni are also omitted along with Exeters Henry Slade.ddddddddddddFree from his injury worries, there could also be a start for Gloucester back Jonny May, while Marland Yarde could feature with Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell also absent through injury. Jonny May could be back in the England side after returning from an injury nightmare As well as Beaumont and Hughes, uncapped Harlequins prop Kyle Sinckler and centre Ben Teo also retain their place and could secure their first international chance.Updated England squad: Forwards: Dave Attwood (Bath), Josh Beaumont (Sale), Dan Cole (Leicester), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Tommy Taylor (Wasps), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton).Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Jonny May (Gloucester), Ben Teo (Worcester), Marland Yarde (Harlequins), Ben Youngs (Leicester). Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ?￡6.99. No contract. 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