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Mistakes, penalties cost Herd in 27-24 loss to UNC-Charlotte

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – After Marshall spent a majority of the last four seasons having its way with Conference USA, opponents are relishing the opportunity to knock off the Herd, especially on its home turf.

That was no more evident than Saturday night as a jubilant Charlotte team exited the visitors’ locker room with a number of players singing Queen’s “We are the Champions” following their 27-24 win over Marshall.

Inopportune mistakes and critical flags doomed Marshall (2-5, 1-2 C-USA), which racked up 12 penalties for 115 yards. In the second half three potential scoring drives were snuffed out by Marshall’s own miscues.

The mistakes included a fumble through the endzone that would have given Marshall a two-touchdown lead and a missed field goal to tie the game in the final minutes.

“We just can’t finish. We put ourselves in great situations and then we kill ourselves in the same situations,” said quarterback Chase Litton. “That’s not good enough. We’ve got to get to work.”

Litton, threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 39 for his career, moving into a tie with Carl Foder for eighth place in program history.

Leading 24-17, Marshall received the second-half kickoff and went right to work, marching down to the Charlotte 4-yard line. However, on first-and-goal, running back Keion Davis extended the football only to fumble the ball through the endzone, ending the scoring threat and giving the ball back to Charlotte (3-5, 2-2).

“They found a way to win that game in the end and we didn’t,” Holliday said. “It’s disappointing.

“I thought there were penalties – way too many penalties. (We) had the opportunity to make some plays there and unfortunately we didn’t make them. They did and we didn’t.”

The 49ers took advantage of the turnover, kicking a 25-yard field goal to pull to with four points of the Herd. The 12-play drive was aided by a pair of 15-yard penalties on Marshall. Kendall Gant was flagged for a personal foul and Ryan Bee was flagged for roughing the passer. Bee was initially called for targeting on the play but it was overturned.

Another squandered opportunity came with following a three-and-out by the Marshall defense and a shanked punt by Arthur Hart. Punting from his 11, Hart’s punt went out of bounds at the 49er 32-yard line. Marshall ended up punting on its ensuing drive, after a pair of holding penalties were called on Josh Knight and Clint Van Horn in addition to a delay of game penalty.

“It’s just frustrating. The chips aren’t falling our way. Too many mistakes and too many penalities and that Charlotte team deserved to win the game,” said tight end Ryan Yuracheck.

Charlotte again made Marshall pay for the missed opportunity. The 49ers methodically moved the ball down the field on a 16-play, 80-yard drive that chewed 7:29 off the clock and ended with a Hassan Klugh 2-yard touchdown run to give Charlotte the lead.

It appeared on the very next drive that Marshall had averted disaster and retaken the lead when Keion Davis broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run. The jubilation was short-lived as behind Davis more laundry was laying the field. Marshall was flagged for another holding penalty, this one the most devastating, erasing the points and the lead.

With just over 2:30 remaining in the game, it appeared Marshall got the break it needed. Safety Kendall Gant dislodged the football from the Charlotte receiver on a bone jarring hit. Chase Hancock recovered the loose ball for the Herd but an official’s review overturned the fumble, ruling the play an incomplete pass.

Marshall still had an opportunity, forcing the Charlotte punt. The Herd rode Davis down to the 19-yard line. But on 1st and 10 from the 19, Litton was sacked for a 4-yard loss, eventually leading to a 40-yard field goal attempt from Amoreto Curraj, that fluttered wide left and never had a shot at going through the uprights.

“They gave us every opportunity to win, to score,” lamented Yuracheck.

Marshall once again came out slow in the first quarter, allowing Charlotte to score on the first drive of the game. Kaliff Phillips scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to give the 49ers the early advantage.

The Herd gained the momentum on a blocked field goal, Jason Smith knocked down a line drive kick from 35 yards out. Marshall needed just five plays to make Charlotte pay, capping off the drive with a 2-yard Keion Davis touchdown run.

A Chris Jackson interception returned down to the Charlotte 4-yard line set up a quick touchdown pass to Justin Hunt and Marshall took a 14-7 lead. Litton and Hunt hooked up for another touchdown with 11:24 to play in the first half, an 8-yard scoring toss as Marshall took a 21-10 lead.

Charlotte answered with a touchdown of its own on he next drive, a 5-yarda touchdown run by Kaliff Phillips. That drive was also aided by a Marshall penalty, a 15-yard pass interference call on safety Kendall Gant.

Phillips finished with 123 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. Quarterback Hasaan Klugh threw for 203 yards and rushed for another 41, including the touchdown.

A pair of Marshall receivers finished with career highs for catches. Deon-Tay McManus hauled in seven receptions for 72 yards. Josh Knight caught 10 passes for 94 yards, topping his previous career-high of nine catches he set last week against FAU.

Marshall is on the road the next two weeks at Southern Miss and at FIU.





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