Detroit - Martin Ward ran for two touchdowns in the first half Saturday and Marshall held off Ohio 21-17 in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

DeQuan Bembry's interception with 40 seconds left sealed the victory for the Thundering Herd (7-6), who led by three touchdowns midway through the second quarter.

The Bobcats (9-5) rallied with Shannon Ballard's 75-yard return off a fumble in the second quarter, Terrence McCrae's TD catch and Matt Weller's field goal. Ohio had chances to complete the comeback but was stunted on the drive before its final possession.

The game looked like it was going to be a route when Ward's 2-yard run put Marshall ahead 21-0 with 7:21 left in the first half. Ward scored on a 12-yard run late in the first quarter and Andre Booker had 58-yard punt return for a touchdown at the end of the quarter.

Just when it appeared as if the Herd were going to make the game lopsided, Ballard returned a fumble 75 yards and gave Ohio a much-needed spark. The Bobcats carried the momentum into the second half, when Theo Scott connected with a leaping McCrae in the end zone on an 8-yard pass midway through the third quarter.

Weller's 46-yard field goal made it 21-17.

Marshall didn't have a first down after halftime until its fourth possession, then it negated a 20-yard gain with a holding penalty and was forced to punt.

Ohio drove to the Marshall 13 on the ensuing drive - taking advantage of two late-hit penalties against the Herd - but stalled and missed a field goal that would've pulled the Bobcats within a point early in the fourth quarter.