MURFREESBORO, TN – Triple-overtime was the farthest thing from anyone’s mind when Marshall trailed 17-10 in the fourth quarter.
Doc Holliday elected to try a 42-yard field goal attempt with 4:32 left in the game. Smith’s kick sailed wide of the uprights and it appeared the Middle Tennessee offense, which finished with 553 yards of total offense, would chew away the clock.
But Marshall’s defense buckled down and forced a three-and-out while just 42 seconds elapsed from the clock, giving the Herd a chance.
“We had a chance,” reiterated Holliday. “The effort and the fight wasn’t an issue at all. We just have to execute better.”
Marshall showed its resilience on the ensuring possession, which culminated with the 10-yard, game-tying touchdown pass from Chase Litton to Ryan Yuracheck.
“We had a chance to win that game and it says a lot about the kind of football team we are, the chips just didn’t fall our way tonight,” felt Yuracheck. “We never give up on ourselves. The offense never gives up on the defense. We just didn’t find away to win this one.”
Marshall’s offense produced when it counted most, in the fourth quarter. Marshall had just 202 yards of total offense in the first half. In the fourth quarter and the overtime periods, the Herd tailed 226 yards of offense and Chase Litton threw two touchdown passes.
“This game hurts but we can’t be down on each other,” said defensive back Evan McKelvey. “We’ve got to make each other better for the next game.”
In the end, Marshall almost found a way to win the game.