6:00pm: Sportsline with Tony Caridi

Missed field goals doom Herd in 3OT loss

MURFREESBORO, TN – Marshall came to Middle Tennessee two years ago and left in heart break, losing on the final play of the game, a 9-yard touchdown pass into the east endzone. Saturday night was déjà vu for the Herd, as Middle Tennessee block a game-tying field goal attempt in triple-overtime, on the east end of the field to escape with a 27-24 win.

Marshall missed four field goals and had a fifth one blocked, squandering multiple chances to win the game.

“We didn’t execute there at the end and didn’t get it done in overtime. I thought the kids played hard and we had a chance to win the game but we didn’t get it done,” said an exasperated coach Doc Holliday.

After making 12 field goals in a row, the usually reliable Nick Smith has missed five of his last seven field goal attempts including tries from 44, 42, and 32 tonight. Amoreto Curriaj did not fair any better, missing a 38-yard field goal in overtime and getting a 39-yard attempt blocked in the third overtime.

“At the end of the day there was not one person who won or lost that football game,” emphasized Holliday. “At the end of the day we’ve got to find a way to win as a football team and we didn’t do that.”

Trailing 17-7 heading into the fourth quarter, Marshall’s offense finally came to life after three quarters of searching for momentum. Nick Smith made his only field goal of the night with 10:11 to go in the game, a 37-yard attempt that put the Herd down seven. Marshall got the football back with 3:40 needing a touchdown to tie the game. Quarterback Chase Litton and the offense went to work.

Litton went 3-for-5 on the drive for 56 yards on the game-tying drive, finding tight end Ryan Yuracheck in the corner of the endzone for a 10-yard touchdown reception.

With the game tied, Middle Tennessee ran just three plays on the ensuing possession, including an incomplete pass, and used just 42 seconds.

Marshall had a chance to win the game in regulation. It got the ball back at its own 47-yard line with 24 seconds left.

On second down of the drive, Litton was forced from the pocket, scrambled toward the sidelines and was tackled out of bounds. A 15-yard personal foul penalty against Middle Tennessee for the late hit, moved the football down to the 15-yard line. With just seconds remaining in the game, Smith missed a game-wining 32-yard field goal.

Middle Tennessee struck first in overtime, a 27-yard touchdown pass to Ed Batties, one of three touchdown passes thrown by redshirt freshman quarterback Brent Stockstill.

Needing a touchdown, Marshall responded.

Litton found lobbed a pass to Devonte Allen on the sidelines from 19 yards out that was initially ruled an incomplete pass because Allen was out of bounds. However, replay officials overturned the call, saying Allen had been forced out of bounds and re-established himself in the field of play before making the touchdown catch.

Marshall and Middle Tennessee exchanged missed field goals in the second overtime. Amoreto Curraj missed from 38 yards while the Blue Raiders’ Cody Clark missed a game-winning 31-yard field goal attempt.

Clark would not miss in the third overtime. Clark was true on a 46-yard attempt that put Middle Tennessee up by 27-24.

The Herd took a shot at the endzone in the final overtime, a pass to Deon-Tay McManus that was broken up in the endzone by Middle Tennessee’s Jermey Cuterer. Marshall settled for another field goal attempt to send the game to a fourth overtime but Cuterer again came through for the Blue Raiders blocking the last ditch field goal attempt.

After a lackluster three quarters, the Herd’s offense finished with 515 total yards.

Meanwhile, Marshall’s defense gave up yards, but kept the Herd in the game. Middle Tennessee rolled up 554 yards of total offense, Marshall forced crucial turnovers as the Blue Raiders were driving. Marshall forced two fumbles and came up with an interception on the day, stopping promising drives by Middle Tennessee.

Stockstill completed 21-of-34 for 353 yards and three touchdowns.

Litton threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns on 34-of-56. Hyleck Foster was Marshall’s leading rusher with 61 yards on 17 carries.

Marshall returns to Joan C. Edwards Stadium for the final home game of the season against FIU. Kickoff is set for 3:30.





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