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Marshall makes plays late to edge Western Kentucky in league opener

— By David Walsh

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Marshall quarterback Isaiah Green had not had the best of nights, but the redshirt freshman managed to find the magic when needed, driving the Thundering Herd 98 yards for the go-ahead score with less than two minutes to play.

Western Kentucky then worked some magic of its own and reached the Marshall 10 in the closing seconds, but defensive lineman Ryan Bee stripped Hilltoppers quarterback Steven Duncan to secure a 20-17 victory in the Conference USA opener for both teams Saturday night at Smith Stadium.

“Guys step up when they need to,” Bee said. “Just doing my job. I came off the edge, the guys inside pushed him out of the pocket and I stripped him.”

Juwon Young, who recovered the game-saving fumble, said the defense made “big-time plays in big-time moments” as Marshall (3-1, 1-0) won its second straight in the series.

“I was on the way in to hit him, saw the ball and scooped it up,” Young said.

Normally, these rival schools meet at the end of the season, but this year’s schedule-makers decided to make it the league opener. The Hilltoppers are 1-4 for the first time since 2011.

Green finished 18-of-39 for 288 yards with two scores and a season-high three interceptions. However, he came up huge on the go-ahead drive.

He connected with tight end Armani Levias for a 35-yard gain at the WKU 38. With 1:44 left, Green threw a slant to Tyre Brady, who cut up the middle and sprinted to the end zone. The Herd’s big-play receiver caught eight passes for 162 yards and two scores.

“Turned the ball over way too much — four times and to win is unusual,” Herd coach Doc Holliday said. “Proud of the guys. They find ways to win.”

Duncan, one of three WKU quarterbacks to see action this season, gave the Hilltoppers a chance to steal one by finding Jacquez Sloan for a 60-yard gain on a third-and-15. He was wide open, but had to slow up to haul in a slight underthrow, preventing a touchdown.

“Can’t get thrown over the top on third-and-15,” Holliday said. “We’ll fix that.”

Keion Davis led the Marshall ground game with 65 yards on 16 attempts. The Herd, whic had trouble running in recent weeks, had 113 for the game. The Herd finished with a 401-324 edge in total offense.

Western Kentucky capitalized on an interception and took a 17-13 lead with 6:50 to play when Duncan hit Sloan for an 11-yard touchdown.

Western Kentucky had the ball for 18:52 in the first half, yet the Herd managed to even the score at 10-10 before the break.

Marshall took a 7-0 lead when Green hooked up with Brady for a 40-yard touchdown pass.

Just before the quarter ended, the Hilltoppers scored on a 23-yard field goal by Ryan Nuss, though it was a disappointment after having first-and-goal at the 6.

In the second quarter, Marshall turned the ball over on a fumble and interception, but the defense held the Hilltoppers each time. They went for it on a fourth-and-1 at the Herd 49 and failed. Later, WKU reached the Marshall 30 when Duncan threw incomplete on fourth-and-8.

Western Kentucky took the lead on its final first-half drive, going 75 yards in seven plays. Duncan found Mik’Quan Deane for a 43-yard gain, then a pass interference on the Herd followed by a Duncan 14-yard strike to Quin Jernigan put the ball at the Marshall 3. Duncan scored on a 3-yard run.

Marshall responded before the half. Green hit Brady for 18 yards and Obi Obialo for 27 for a first down at the Western Kentucky 11. A holding call stalled the drive and Justin Rohrwasser connected on a 35-yard field goal with 36 seconds left.

The Herd had a chance to take the third-quarter lead but the Hilltoppers blocked a 33-yard field goal try.

Marshall returns home Friday to take on Middle Tennessee.

The Blue Raiders upset defending C-USA champion FAU 25-24 on Saturday night, scoring with 38 seconds left and adding the decisive two-point conversion.





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