HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Leading by two touchdowns early in the second quarter, Marshall started a drive with a feeling that another touchdown could give the Herd an insurmountable lead.
However, the game changed when Chase Litton was sacked, fumbled and Akron’s Daumantas Venckus returned the loose ball 35 yards for a touchdown. That gave Akron momentum it never relinquished.
Akron went on to score 34 consecutive points in the second quarter and stunned Marshall 65-31 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
Akron’s 65 points is the most ever allowed during a regulation game at Joan C. Edwards Stadium (WKU scored 67 in 2014 in overtime).
“There are a lot of things you can probably blame it on,” said senior defensive end Gary Thompson. “I put some of it myself. There were some plays out there I could have made but we just have to put it behind us.
Deon-Tae Moore hurdled an attempted cut block by the Marshall offensive line and laid a clean lick on Litton, driving him in the turf and jarring the ball free. Officials reviewed the play, to see if Litton was down before the ball came free but ultimately upheld the ruling of the field.
“Akron made a heck of a play and they capitalized,” Litton said. “We just didn’t execute today.”
Litton finished the day with 413 yards passing and four touchdowns but he was also sacked three times and intercepted twice, including a pick-six in the fourth quarter.
The massive hit on Litton and ensuing fumble return for a touchdown was a turning point as the game spiraled out of control for the Herd.
At the 9:07 mark of the second quarter, Akron quarterback Thomas Woodson hit speedy wideout JoJo Natson for a 35-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 21-21.
Akron took the lead less than two minutes later when the Zips blocked a punt and Ulysees Gilbert returned it 30 yards for a touchdown to take a 27-21 lead (Akron missed the extra point).
“It was a lack of focus,” assessed running back Hyleck Foster. “After that blocked punt, our energy level went down. They took all our energy.”
The nightmare was just starting for the Herd.
Woodson threw the third of his four touchdown passes with 5:02 left in the first half, to Kwardarrius Smith from 30 yards out. Tra’Von Chapman tacked on another touchdown with 20 seconds left in the half and Akron took 41-21 lead into the lockerroom.
“The blocked punt, the hit on Chase, that was a 20-point swing right there. We just lost it and couldn’t get it back,” tight end Ryan Yuracheck admitted. “Then in the second half we couldn’t put the ball in the endzone or get a stop. It wasn’t our day out there, definitely.”
Prior to the fumble recovery returned for a touchdown by Venckus, Marshall appeared to have taken control of the game.
The Herd had scored 21 consecutive points in the first quarter on three Chase Litton touchdown passes. Litton found Michael Clark in the endzone for a three-yard scoring toss. Later in the first quarter, Deon-Tay McManus hauled in an 18-yard touchdown catch and Josh Knight had a 21-yard touchdown reception.
Meanwhile, Marshall’s defense had started to figure the Akron defense. After Akron’s initial 80-yard scoring drive, Marshall held the Zips to just 37 yards of offense while forcing three punts and a fumble as the Herd built a 21-7 lead.
That all changed with the Deon-Tae Moore hit on Chase Litton.
After the fumble return, Akron punted just twice more while adding a 27-yard touchdown pass to Austin Wolf in the third quarter, a Woodson touchdown run and a second defensive touchdown when Josh Knight intercepted Chase Litton and returned the pick 25 yards for another score capping off the 65-38 drubbing.
The game was also marred by penalties. The two teams combined for 30 penalties for 216 yards. Marshall was flagged 17 times for 180 yards.
Akron rolled up 524 yards of offense, 379 yards of that through air. Quarterback Thomas Woodson was 21-of-32 passing with four touchdowns. JoJo Natson and Jerome Lane were both over 100 yards receiving. Natson had seven catches for 134 yards and a touchdown. Lane caught seven balls for 115 yards.
For Marshall, Josh Knight caught 7 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Hyleck Foster led the ground attack with 77 yards on 18 carries.
Marshall doesn’t have any time to dwell on the loss. The Herd will play host to 10th-ranked Louisville next Saturday.