Marshall dominated a stagnant Cincinnati Bearcats team Saturday on the road at Nippert Stadium 38-21. A recap of the scoring is below:
First Quarter
Marshall: Chase Litton 14-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Yuracheck (8:39)
After Marshall’s Tyler King fumbled, the Bearcats gave the Herd a mulligan two plays later when quarterback Hayden Moore’s backwards pass found no target, and linebacker Frankie Hernandez scooped up the ball. The Herd took advantage of the second chance with a 10-play 66-yard drive. Tyre Brady caught a 15-yard pass on third down, and another first down came by way off a Cincinnati offsides on fourth-and-5. Litton capped the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to the tight end Yuracheck.
Marshall leads 7-0
Second Quarter
Marshall: Kaare Vedvik 26-yard field goal (12:55)
The Herd were on another long drive as the second quarter began. On a third-and-10 the Bearcats gave Marshall a free first down with the team’s back against their own endzone. Marcel Williams helped convert multiple first downs on the drive, including a 34-yard catch on third-and-11 that put Marshall in field-goal range.
Marshall leads 10-0
Marshall: Litton 27-yard touchdown pass to Willie Johnson (1:38)
After a three-and-out by the Bearcats, Marshall went on another lengthy drive. A holding penalty on third down gave the Herd a free first, something that was common throughout the night as the Cincinnati never looked in sync. On fourth-and-2 Marshall gambled and came out with a big payday as Litton found Johnson.
Marshall leads 17-0
Marshall: Litton 15-yard touchdown pass to Yuracheck (1:27)
Cincinnati couldn’t get out of its own way. A fumble on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by Marshall, and it only took one play for Litton to find Yuracheck for his second receiving touchdown. Ten seconds, two touchdowns for the Herd as the half came to a close.
Marshall leads 24-0
Third Quarter
Cincinnati: Gerrid Doaks 2-yard touchdown run (9:05)
The Bearcats came out in the second half looking to make it a game. A fourth-down conversion and a heavy dose of running back Gerrid Doaks in the red zone ended with a 2-yard run on fourth down.
Marshall leads 24-7
Marshall: Litton 31-yard touchdown pass to Yuracheck (1:06)
It looked like Cincinnati’s defense was finally starting to adjust in the second half, forcing a punt after three plays. A muffed punt gave the Herd their second special team’s turnover of the night, and Marshall once again took no time at all making the Bearcats pay for the mistake. One play later, Yuracheck had his third touchdown and the game was right back in Marshall’s control.
Marshall leads 31-7
Fourth Quarter
Cincinnati: Michael Warren 27-yard touchdown run (14:15)
A pass interference committed by Rodney Allen gave Cincinnati a first on third-and-8, and two plays later Warren busted through the line for a 27-yard touchdown.
Marshall leads 31-14
Marshall: Keion Davis 1-yard touchdown run (9:14)
Much like King last week, the fourth quarter belonged to Keion Davis. Runs of 20, 18, and 36 put the Herd in scoring position; and on fourth-and-1 Davis pounded the ball in for Marshall’s final score.
Marshall leads 38-14
Cincinnati: Hayden Moore 18-yard touchdown pass to Javan Hawes (3:03)
At the end of a six-play, 51-yard drive, Bearcats quarterback Hayden Moore got his first touchdown, which was too little, too late for Cincinnati.
Marshall leads 38-21
— By Troy Alexander