FINISHING STRONG

Compiled by Bill Cornwell THE INSIDER Editor.

Marshall’s football team had hopes of winning a Conference USA East Division title this season, but the last month of the campaign did allow the Herd to dictate who did eventually win the division.

Marshall’s shot to remain in the divisional hunt came on November 3rd at Southern Miss. The Herd was coming off of its bye week and the early performance in Hattiesburg, Mississippi showed some off-week “rust” as two second quarter turnovers helped erase a 10-3 Marshall lead on the way to a 26-24 Golden Eagles victory.

Isaiah Green returned to quarterback Marshall late in the 2nd quarter following an Alex Thomson interception, but Green fumbled on his first play behind center in more than a month following a leg injury. That fumble was turned into a Southern Miss touchdown and a 17-10 halftime lead.

Marshall tied the game in the third quarter, but the Golden Eagles scored nine unanswered points to earn the win. Marshall scored late on an Artie Henry touchdown catch but the Herd could not recover the ensuring on-side kick.

The Southern Miss loss effectively ended Marshall’s division title hopes, but a strong league finish was possible with upcoming C-USA home games with Charlotte and UTSA.

Marshall took care of business in both contests, coming away with a 30-13 win over the 49ers and a 23-0 victory over the Roadrunners on Senior Day.

The win over Charlotte made Marshall “bowl-eligible” and came just days before the 48th anniversary of the 1970 plane crash near Tri-State Airport which took the lives of 75 Marshall football players, coaches, administrators and fans.

Marshall’s defense was impressive in the Charlotte game, giving up only 185 total yards on the day. After Charlotte tied Marshall 13-13 in the third quarter, the Herd scored 17 unanswered points and it’s offense became a rushing juggernaut behind the effort of freshman Brenden Knox, who was forced to play due to injuries to backs Tyler King and Keion Davis.

Knox finished the game with 116 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in his first significant playing time for Marshall. Senior wide receiver also had a strong game with six catches and 95 yards.

In the UTSA game, Marshall’s defense was stifling to a struggling Roadrunners attack. The Roadrunners had minus-26 rushing yards on the day and managed only 137 total yards. The shutout was Marshall fifth in nine seasons under head coach Doc Holliday. The performance included five sacks totaling 39 lost yards.

Offensively, Herd quarterback hooked up with receivers Tyre Brady and Artie Henry for touchdowns and Justin Rohrwasser kicked three field goals.

Marshall headed for Miami, Florida and meeting with FIU on Thanksgiving weekend. A Panthers win would give it the Conference USA East Division crown.

Before Marshall and FIU, the Herd learned that it would play the next week at Virginia Tech after the Hokies beat rival Virginia in overtime for a fifth win. Tech needed a sixth win to gain bowl eligibility for a 26th straight year and since Marshall and the Hokies lost games on September 15th due to Hurricane Florence, the schools decided to meet on December 1st if Tech still needed a bowl-clinching win. In exchange, Marshall received a financial guarantee and a future home-and-home series with the Hokies.

Against FIU, Marshall was able to utilized much of its Florida-recruited talent on the way to a 28-25 win that ruined the Panthers’ divisional title hopes. Largo, Florida’s Brandon Drayton blocked a punt and covered the ball in the endzone for a touchdown, while Homestead, Florida’s Tyre Brady had two touchdown catches while Largo’s Frankie Hernandez, Port St. Lucie’s Omari Cobb and Punta Gorda’s Ty Tyler made key defensive plays throughout the day.

Offensively, Isaiah Green was able to make plays with both his arm and feet for Marshall and Brenden Knox put the game away with key runs in a clock-eating drive, finishing with 109 yards on 19 carries.

The eighth win and sixth league win allowed Marshall to tie FIU for second in C-USA’s East Division, giving the division title to Middle Tennessee State.

The Herd lost the next week at Va. Tech 41-20 in a game played in chill and fog at Lane Stadium. Marshall’s offense moved the ball effectively most of the day against the vaunted Tech defense, but Marshall’s defense was shredded for 454 yards.

Offensively, Marshall was outgained by only 2 yards and Brenden Knox had his performance of the season with 204 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Isaiah Green had 220 passing yards against the Hokies with one touchdown pass and one interception.

Marshall learned on December 2nd that it would face South Florida in the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl on December 20th at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. The game, actually being played on South Florida’s home field, would serve as a reward for an 8-4 Marshall team that overcame injuries and some uneven performances to complete another successful year under ninth-year head coach Doc Holliday.

Photos by Adam Gue.