HUNTINGTON, W.Va.— Rakeem Cato threw for three touchdowns and ran for one while Devon Johnson ran for three more as Marshall ran its record to a perfect 6-0 with a 49-24 win over Middle Tennessee State. Marshall broke open a relatively close game in the second half, dominating Middle Tennessee, scoring 21 consecutive points on a pair of Cato touchdown passes and a Johnson scoring run.
“It’s a blessing, not only to be 6-0 but for the whole team working hard. This is where we want to be. We just have to put this game behind us and keep working hard.
Rakeem Cato tied Russell Wilson’s record of 38 consecutive games with a touchdown pass and will have an opportunity to break the record next week at FIU. Cato had 337 yards passing the three touchdowns.
The Herd led 28-17 at halftime However, the outcome of the game would not be in doubt for long. The Herd needed just 1:13 coming out of the locker room to drive the score to 35-17 and never look back. Cato capped off a four-play driving coming out of the locker room with a 4-yard touchdown run and the momentum was on the side of the Herd from that point on.
The Herd extended its lead to 42-17 later in the third quarter. Cato hit Tommy Shuler for a 31-yard gain and on 4th and 9 found tight end Eric Frohnapfel over the middle for a 22-yard conversion. The rest was up to Johnson who drove the ball across the goal from two yards out.
“The line does a great job and Cato does a great job of communicating with me with what he sees,” said Johnson. “We wanted to play the second half of just inside drill where we just run the ball and pound them then Cato will pull the ball and throw it and we did just that.”
Johnson finished the day with 134 yards on 19 carries. He’s now rushed for 100 yards or more in five of Marshall six games this season.
The Herd’s final score was set up by an A.J. Leggett interception and 32-yard return. Leggett picked off Austin Grammer, ran by three would-be tacklers and hurdled another, giving Marshall the ball on the Blue Raiders 14-yard line.
“I was back there roaming around and I saw the receiver coming over the middle and watched the quarterback’s eyes the whole time and saw him looking at that receiver and just broke on the ball as fast as I can,” explained Leggett.
Marshall made quick work of the turnover. On the first play of the fourth quarter Rakeem Cato found Craig Wilkins in the endzone for Wilkins second score of the day to put Marshall up 49-17.
Wilkins hauled in a career high two touchdown passes and had 77 yards receiving.
“They shut us down the second half and I have to give them credit thee, they have a really good football team,” said Middle Tennessee Coach Rick Stockstill.
Marshall took a 21-7 lead in the first half. Johnson scored on runs of 13 yards and 1 yard while Rakeem Cato connected with Craig Wilkins for a 26-yard touchdown. Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee got 6-yard touchdown pass from Austin Grammer to Jordan Parker out of the backfield.
Marshall had chances to put the game away in the second quarter leading 28-10. Following a Cato touchdown pass to Deon-Tay McManus, Middle Tennessee fumbled the ensuring kickoff giving Marshall the ball back on the Blue Raiders’ 35-yard line. However, Cato was sacked and Marshall was penalized for a false start. The Herd punted, squandering a chance to put the game away.
“We got sloppy there in the second quarter, and it was critical to come out there in the second half,” said coach Doc Holliday.
The Blue Raiders got a 34-yard field goal from Cody Clark then Middle Tennessee’s Shane Tucker pulled in a 4-yard touchdown pass set up by and Marshall three-and-out.
Marshall remains unbeaten on the season and is the only major college football team to score 40 points in every game this year.
Marshall finished with 589 yards of total offense, 252 of which came on the ground.
Defensively, Marshall limited Middle Tennessee to 370 total yards and just 201 yards through the air.