CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Marshall’s offense reverted to its 2014 form Saturday, as Chase Litton threw for 486 yards in a 34-10 win over Charlotte.
The Herd rolled up 630 total yards of offense against a 49er defense that was only allowing 375 yards per game, third best in Conference USA.
“The guys played extremely well in the first half,” said coach Doc Holliday. “We came here and did what we’re supposed to and won the football game. We went some more tempo today and speed things up and I thought he handled that well. He made good decisions on the run/pass options and managed the game well.”
Litton’s 486 yards ranks third in Herd history behind only Michael Payton, who threw for 496 yards against VMI in 1991 and Bryon Leftwich who tossed for 576 yards in a legendary 64-61 comeback win in the 2001 GMAC over East Carolina.
“We just came out clicking. We were playing fast, which got them away from the doing all the stunts they do and the coverages they like to switch. When we play fast they can’t do that and it worked to our favor,” assessed Litton.
Litton’ favorite target on the day, Davonte Allen, pulled down12 catches for 232 yards. That’s the sixth most ever in a single game by a Marshall receiver. You have to go back to win over Appalachian State in 2002 when Josh Davis had 264 yards receiving.
“Nothing was different. They just gave us the looks we wanted and capitalized on it,” said Allen who set a new career high in catches and receiving yards.
Against, the third-ranked defense in C-USA against the run, Marshall came out flinging the ball around the field. The Herd attempted 53 passes and handed the ball off 39 times.
“It’s the same old deal. Our quarterback took what they gave us,” Holliday explained. “They were loading the box at times and bringing some pressure and he did a good job of getting the ball out there where it belongs.”
For all intents and purposes the outcome was decided by halftime. Marshall scored on four of its five drives in the first half, taking a 31-3 lead into the break. The Herds offense got warmed up early. Litton completed his first five passes, including a 43-yard bomb to Davonte Allen on the first play from scrimmage. That set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Remi Watson two plays later.
The Herd’s next two scoring drives were two of the longest drives of the season. Marshall went on a pair of 97-yard scoring drives to push its lead to 21-0. The Herd punctuated its second scoring drive with a 66-yard touchdown pass to Davonte Allen.
On the next series, Litton had perfect touch on a corner route to tight end Ryan Yuracheck for a 17-yard touchdown.
The Herd made quick work of another long field, marching 84 yards in 2:10 to push its lead to 28-0 in the second quarter. Litton picked the 49er defense apart completing 4-of-6 on the drive, setting up a 6-yard touchdown run by Keion Davis.
Meanwhile, Marshall’s defense was smothering, limiting Charlotte to 150 yards of total offense in the first half. Charlotte was forced to punt its first five drives before Blake Brewer kicked a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter.
The 49ers were limited to just 190 yards of total offense in the first half, 66 rushing yards and 124 passing.
In the second half, Marshall’s offense was much more sluggish, failing to score in the third quarter and plagued by penalties. Marshall racked up 14 flags for 100 yards in the game.
“In the second half we moved the ball up and down the field but we didn’t finish drives. We missed a couple of field goals, which we haven’t done, had some guys jumping offsides and some stupid penalties we need to clean up,” Holliday evaluated of his team’s second half performance.
Charlotte tacked on a late score on a 6-yard Kalif Philips touchdown run for the 49ers only touchdown of the game.
The Thundering Herd has won 22 of its last 24 games and Doc Holliday is now 22-6 in the month of October in his five-plus seasons at Marshall’s head coach.
Marshall takes its 8-1 record and undefeated conference mark to Middle Tennessee next week, where Marshall suffered its last C-USA road loss.