Herd plays inspired in win

The struggles of this year's Marshall football team have been well documented. 

But on an emotional weekend when the team wore jerseys and helmets that honored both the 1970 team that perished in the November 14th plane crash 46 years ago and the 1971 team that kept the program alive, the Herd turned in its most complete and inspired effort of the season. Marshall cruised to a 42-17 win over Middle Tennesse State to stay unbeaten in Huntington against the Blue Raiders. 

It was a total team effort as the defense forced four turnovers and pitched a second-half shutout while the offense rolled up nearly 500 yards of offense in route to its highest point total since its season-opening win against FCS Morgan Sate. Several players turned in their best performances of the season including quarterback Chase Litton, who was wearing the #14 jersey that he sported as a freshman. He was wearing it to honor Ted Shoebridge who wore the same number when he was quarterbacking the 1970 team but wearing his old number Litton looked like his old self. The sophomore was 21-37 for 246 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. 

Litton spread the ball around to six different receivers led by senior Justin Hunt who snagged five passes for 87-yards and two scores including an impressive one-handed grab with a defensive back draped all over him. Josh Knight complimented Hunt with six catches of his own for 74 yards and a touchdown as well


But, the real stars of the game were the big fellas up front. Marshall's offensive line has had its share of problems from injuries to ineffectiveness over the course of the season and those problems were reflected in the fact that the Herd hadn't had a 100-yard rusher all season long. But, that changed Saturday night as the Marshall O-line dominated the Blue Raiders leading to a season-high 207 rushing yards including 109 yards from sophomore back Anthony Anderson, who also rushed for a score. Tony Pittman nearly joined Anderson in the century club by putting up 88 yards on 15 carries, while Hyleck Foster added 52 total yards including both a rushing and receiving touchdown. 

Middle Tennessee's offense was without All-CUSA quarterback Brent Stockstill, and the Blue Raiders sputtered with John Urzua at the helm. Urzua completed 25-37 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions including one on Middle Tennessee's opening possession that set up the Herd's first score. Corey Neely who led the team with 13 tackles also picked off Urzua late in the game to help Marshall put the Blue Raiders away but the defense's effort against Conference USA's second-leading rusher I'Tavius Mathers was the real difference maker. 

Mathers came into the game averaging 127 yards per game including an impressive average of 6.7 yards per carry. Against the Herd Mathers mustered just 45 yards on 15 carries for a three yard per rush average. 

The season hasn't gone exactly how coach Doc Holliday or Marshall fans had hoped but on the most emotional weekend in the program's history with the 75 decals on the back of the helmets the Herd came up with an effort and a win that was sure to make the members of the 1970 team proud.