HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — After another dominant performance by Marshall’s defense saw them hold Old Dominion to just three points, the Herd remains the only team in the country to not allow a touchdown in conference play this season.
Defensive end Blake Keller said confidence is high after a four-game win streak in which Marshall has allowed just 27 points.
“We are playing at a really high level,” Keller said. “Anytime we step out there on the field we always tell each other ‘Let’s keep them out of the endzone and keep points off the board.’ We have done a really good job of that these past few games.”
Marshall ranks second in the nation in red-zone defense and fifth in preventing red-zone touchdowns. Their total defense is ranked 25th in the nation, with a scoring defense ranked ninth.
The field goal in the second quarter by ODU were the first points Marshall had allowed in the first half since their loss to N.C. State in Week 2.
“Coming into the season we said we wanted to get back to what previous Marshall defenses have been,” Keller said. “I think we are definitely working our way back towards that, we just need to keep it up.”
The defense isn’t the only unit with grades in the top 25 rankings.
The offense ranks third in sacks allowed (just three on the season) and 21st in fewest interceptions thrown.
The special teams unit also joins the top 25 party, ranking 15th in net punt yards.
Marshall (5-1, 2-0 C-USA) is a 2.5-point favorite for Friday night’s game at Middle Tennessee State (3-4, 1-2).
One for the record books
When Kaare Vedvik punted his way into the record books with a 92 yard kick that broke a Marshall record that had stood for 43 seasons, it was just another day for him said the senior who has been pulling double duty as Marshall’s kicker and punter this season.
“That is my job, to go out there and flip the field,” Vedvik said. “Obviously when you can flip the field 72 yards net, it is a good deal and it helps the whole team.”
Vedvik said he knew the punt, which was the longest by an FBS kicker in 45 years, was a good one as soon as it hit his foot.
“You are trying to match the ball to your foot as clean as you can,” Vedvik said. “Every punter and kicker is trying to hit what we call the sweet spot on the ball—it’s were the ball perfectly matches your foot—if that happens, you don’t even really feel the ball leave your foot.”
Vedvik said the team was more excited than he was.
“I ran to the sideline and they were just running up congratulating me, I was overwhelmed at first,” Vedvik said. “Personally, I don’t really get too hyped about it— I just kick the ball and if it goes it goes—I just want to punt it far.”
Safety Malik Gant was s bit more impressed by the kick.
“Once Vedvik kicked it everybody was like ‘dang, it’s going long’ but it kept rolling and rolling,” Gant said. “It really just put us in a great position and made us say we aren’t going to let them get past the fifty.”
Two underclassmen, two starts
Sophomore Channing Hames and Freshmen Will Ulmer both made their second career start Saturday against ODU.
Ulmer found himself manning the left tackle spot for the injured Sandy Jean-Felix against a team that ranked tenth in the nation in sacks.
“I knew i was going to play this season, but I wasn’t really sure how much or what to expect,” Ulmer said. “It just goest back to five men, one mind—my teammates have done a great job working with—and coach has done a great job having me ready to play.”
Marshall had one of their most productive games of the season running the ball against Old Dominion, totaling 195 yards on the ground.
On the defensive side of the ball, Hames filled the stat sheet from the defensive tackle position after battling injuries since his first career start in the season opener.
“It was difficult at first, staying on top of my injury and just not being able to be out there with my team,” Hames said. “Saturday really made me confident—the success I was able to bring to the team after dealing with a little adversity made me happy.”
Hames ended the night with 3 tackles (2 TFL), a sack, three quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble.
“I don’t want to miss anymore games so I can be there for the team and we can accomplish (our goals) for the rest of the season the right way,” Hames said.
Death march
Herd fans were once again treated to a punishing final drive by the Marshall offense Saturday to end the game with a kneel, something center Levi Brown said symbolizes the team’s attitude this season.
“Anytime we can end the game with us in the victory formation taking a knee it is a huge confidence booster knowing we kept the opposing offense off the field,” Brown said. “I think we took the ball with about six minutes left last week, and we kept it the whole time and ended it with a knee.”
Brown said finishing games strong is a big focus after last season.
“Taking that time off the clock and constantly get first downs and put the game away is something we really like to do,” Brown said. “We look forward to doing it this week hopefully.”
Coach Doc Holliday agreed with his lineman’s sentiment, highlighting the success of the run game on the final drive.
“I thought the offensive line did a tremendous job, and the way Anthony Anderson finished that game off was huge,” Holliday said. “I trust all three of those guys to go in there and play well.”
Anderson was only in on the final drive, but finished the game with seven rushes for 46 yards, an average of almost seven yards per carry.
—By Troy Alexander