Defense had a point to prove vs. La Tech

HUNTINGTON, W.Va.—Marshall’s defense was a unit on a mission Saturday. Coming off last week’s loss to Western Kentucky, in which it allowed 738 yards of total offense to the Hilltoppers the defense was determined to show that was a fluke.

Marshall shutdown Louisiana Tech’s offense limiting the Bulldogs to 268 total yards and just 72 yards passing.

“We had a bad game last week, but we’ve been a good defense all year,” said linebacker Neville Hewitt. “We just had to go out there and show that we are still a great defense.”

The Bulldogs never really put any dominating drives together during the game. All three of Louisiana Tech’s touchdowns were set up by Marshall miscues, giving the Bulldogs momentum and great field position.

“They played tremendous, to turn the ball over like we did and to have a blocked punt like we did and to find a way to win that football game. I don’t know if I have ever played in a game or coached a game where had the mistakes that we made and still found a way to win,” said coach Doc Holliday.

Louisiana Tech quarterback Cody Sokol had thrown for 3,117 yards and 29 touchdowns on the year entering Saturday’s championship game but Sokol was just 7-for-20 for 72 yards in the rainy and windy conditions.

“It was definitely hard to get a rhythm going,” comment Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz. “They had a very talented defense. We knew that. We looked at them and knew there would be two really good defenses here.”

Marshall’s defense was dominant when it needed to be on Saturday. In the second half, the Herd’s defense forced five punts, a field goal attempt, a fumble and an interception.

“We said coming into this week we were going to show the real Marshall defense and we came out and did that,” said defensive back Taj Letman.

Louisiana Tech had six drives that went three-and-out and four of those came in the second half as Marshall clawed its way back into the game.

“It was really had to get into a rhythm and then we weren’t able to create a lot of big plays,” said Holtz.





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