Greenhorns lead Marshall to 36-29 2OT victory

KENT, OH – Missing key veterans, sidelined with injuries, Marshall leaned on a true freshman quarterback and a redshirt sophomore running back to pull out a 36-29 double-overtime victory over Kent State.

After Kent State completed a 12-yard pass to Brice Fackler in the opening possession of overtime, Marshall was faced with 4th-and-goal at the 3-yard line. Chase Litton scrambled away from pressure and fired to Davonte Allen as he fell to the turf in the corner of the endzone. The Herd didn’t waste any time in the second overtime needing just three plays to reach paydirt. Tony Pittman carried the ball twice for 18 yards and bullied his way the final seven for the eventual game winning score.

“We made it hard,” said Doc Holliday. “We knew it was going to be a fight coming in here. They play extremely well defensive but at the end of the day when you had to go out there and find a way to win the game, they did.”

Marshall started the game without the services of senior tackle Clint Van Horn, who missed his second consecutive start. He was soon joined by senior running back Devon Johnson, who played just two series before limping to the sidelines.

In Johnson’s absence, the Herd inserted redshirt sophomore Tony Pittman who slashed his way the Kent State defense for 129 yards on 24 carries and a pair of touchdowns.

“Tony Pittman, my man, Tony Pittman,” exclaimed Litton. “We knew he could do it, if he had to come in he would step up and he did.”

Kent State capitalized on Litton’s first interception on Marshall’s first play from scrimmage. The Golden Flashes got the ball on their 48-yard line and needed just two plays to reach the endzone. Kent State ran a reverse to Antwan Dixon, who cleared the edge and sprint to the goal line. Instead of kicking the extra point, Kent State coach Paul Hayes elected to go for two and was denied.

The decision would prove to have major implications in the game.

Marshall responded late in the first quarter with a 9-yard Pittman touchdown, taking a 7-6 lead. However, Kent went to the locker room with a 13-7 advantage thanks to a 3-yard scoring run by Trayion Durham. Durham, a 248-pound bruiser, fought his way for 114 yards on 31 carries.

Kent State extended its lead in the third quarter scoring on a 19-yard reception by Ernest Calhoun. The Golden Flashes attempted the two-point conversion again, trying to make up for the earlier failed attempt, and was again turned away by the Marshall defense.

“Kent State has a very good offense. They threw a lot of stuff at us and some of it caught us off guard and we had to adjust during the game,” said defensive lineman Gary Thompson.

The Herd got a spark with 9:05 left in the third quarter, when Deandre Reaves broke loose on a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, the second touchdown return in his career.

“All the credit goes to the other ten guys out there,” credited Reaves. “They blocked their tails off and pretty much my job easier and I felt gave us the momentum to keep this thing rolling.

“Anytime you get a touchdown on special teams it’s a momentum changer, a game changer.”

The Herd took its first lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Yuracheck, going in front 22-19. Marshall benefited from two personal foul penalties on Kent State for targeting. Safety Nate Holly was ejected when he led with his helmet and hit Litton, who was scrambling and slid, giving himself up.

Aftter the touchdown pass to Yuracheck, Marshall attempted two-point converision. Najee Murray launched himself into an outstretched Yuracheck, making helmet-to-helmet contact. He was also disqualified and Marshall converted the two-point play on its second try.

Kent State got the ball back on its own 20 with 4:55 left and started a drive that looked as though the Golden Flashes would not be denied he endzone. Aided by a 15-yard personal foul penalty on the Herd, Kent State moved the ball inside Marshall territory and down the 18-yard line. But facing 2nd-and-2 and 3-and-2, Marshall’s defense stuffed Durham at the line of scrimmage and forced an incomplete pass to limit Kent State to a 33-yard field goal, forcing overtime.

“I can’t say enough about our defense keeping up in it and we pulled it out,” said a relieved Ryan Yuracheck, who had four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown.

Litton, who was under pressure much of the night, completed 14-of-36 for 151 yards with two touchdowns and two picks.

Marshall finishes the non-conference portion of the schedule 3-1 and opens league play Saturday at Joan C. Edward Stadium against Old Dominion.





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