Western Kentucky embarrasses Herd 60-6

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall’s 2016 season came to a conclusion Saturday night with little more than a whimper from the Thundering Herd, which was dominated in every facet of the game in a 60-6 drubbing at the hands of Western Kentucky.

It was the worst home loss in Joan C. Edwards Stadium history.

Marshall played like a team that just wanted to put a dismal season behind it as the defense put up little resistance allowing Western Kentucky to roll up 462 yards of offense a hang 60 points on the scoreboard.

“It wasn’t the outcome we wanted but there’s nothing to do but come back tomorrow and get ready for 2017,” said tight end Ryan Yuracheck.

Western Kentucky set the tone for the old fashion beat down on the opening kickoff when Kylen Towner returned it 93 yards for a touchdown only 14 seconds into the game. That was the first of five consecutive Western Kentucky touchdowns in the first half. Quarterback Mike White threw three touchdown passes, to receivers Taywan Taylor, Anthony Wales and Nicholas Norris, while Wales rushed for another score as the Hilltoppers ran up a 35-0 lead with 5:23 left in the second quarter. White would finish with 233 yards passing.

While the Herd’s defense did little to slow down Western Kentucky, the offense sputtered throughout the game. True freshman Garet Morrell made his second start of the season in place of sophomore Chase Litton. Marshall announced prior to the game, Litton was out for the season finale with an undisclosed injury. After the game, coach Doc Holliday said a shoulder issue had developed in the middle of the week.

With the true freshman at quarterback and a patchwork offensive line, Marshall’s offense simply could not move the football. The Herd was held to just 93 yards of total offense in the first half and 230 yards total, that despite holding on the to the ball for nearly 40 minutes of the game.

“They threw everything at us,” said Morrell. “It was all over the place.”

The night epitomized a 2016 season that had far more disappointments than it did highlights. Western Kentucky abused Marshall’s battered defense rushing for 229 yards. Anthony Wales rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns while former Marshall commit, Quinton Baker, added 104 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown.

Even Marshall’s lone touchdown of the night came with a momentary meltdown. Morrell completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Yuracheck, extending Yuracheck’s streak of 29 consecutive games with a reception, with 1:57 left in the third quarter. However, WKU blocked the extra point and Joe Brown returned the loose ball 87 yards for two points for the Hilltoppers.

It was that kind of a night and that kind of a season for the Herd.

“This day was dedicated to our seniors and we wanted to send them out the right way and we didn’t succeed in that,” Rodney Allen admitted.

Marshall finishes the year 3-9, the Herd’s worst record since Doc Holliday took over as head coach in 2010. It’s the fewest wins for Marshall since the 2007 when the Herd went 3-9 in Mark Snyder’s third season as head coach.

With the win, Western Kentucky advances to the Conference USA Championship Game and will face Louisiana Tech next Saturday.





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