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A different homecoming of sorts for Marshall with trip to FIU ahead

Marshall receiver Tyre Brady will have a chance to play in front of family and friends at FIU.

 

— By Bill Cornwell

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall played its 2018 Homecoming game a month ago, beating Florida Atlantic 31-7. 

This weekend is a Homecoming of another sort as Marshall ends the regular season Saturday with a Conference USA East Division matchup against Florida International in Miami.

The contest at Riccardo Silva Stadium kicks off at noon and the video will be streamed by Stadium Facebook Live.

Marshall (7-3, 5-2) comes into the game after a dominant 23-0 win last Saturday over UTSA, while FIU beat Charlotte 42-35.

An FIU win would give the Panthers the C-USA East Division title and set up a December 1 matchup with UAB for the conference championship.

Marshall leads the all-time series with the Panthers, winning the first four contests, but FIU has won the last two meetings, including a 41-30 victory last season during Panthers’ coach Butch Davis’ first visit to Huntington. 

In regards to this week’s game, one-third of Marshall’s roster is made up Florida natives. MU head coach Doc Holliday and his staff have long been known for their ability to take talent from the Sunshine State and draw it to Huntington.

One of the Herd’s Florida natvies is junior cornerback Chris Jackson and the memory of last year’s loss to FIU is still clear in his mind.

“They came into our house and scored 41 and we did take that to heart,” Jackson said. “We have to prepare the right way to keep that from happening this week, focus on ourselves and get better as a team.”

Although Marshall isn’t in the hunt for the C-USA East title, Jackson says that he and his teammates are looking at the game as a championship fight.

“It’s a big game for us and them, so we just need to prepare for a tough battle,” Jackson said. “They’re a great team and their record shows it and we’re going to have to play our best game in order to win.”

One Herd player with even more on the line this week could be senior wide receiver Tyre Brady, who started his college football career across town from FIU at the University of Miami.  Brady comes off a big game last week against UTSA when he racked up 162 receiving yards on six catches. 

“I have a lot of family and friends who’ll be there,” Brady said. “I’ve been asking a lot of my teammates for tickets for my family and the Florida guys on the team are excited about going home and seeing familiar faces.”

Junior linebacker Omari Cobb, who Monday was named Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Week for his play in the UTSA win, is from Port St. Lucie, Florida and is also eager for the matchup at FIU.

“It’s amazing that you’re getting the confidence in your game, you’re able to fly around, especially in front of your family,” Cobb said. “You can show them how well you’re playing since they don’t get the chance to see you play much. It really makes me feel good.”

Senior offensive lineman Jordan Dowrey isn’t from Florida, but the Winchester, Virginia native sees Saturday’s game as a chance for the Herd to show how they’ve improved as the season has progressed.

“It’s going to come down to how we prepare and whatever they bring on defense, that will determine how well we play,” Dowrey said. “As long as we take care of our business, that’s all we need to worry about.”

A win would allow Marshall to end its regular season with a 6-2 record in C-USA play, while a loss would have FIU fall to 6-2 in league play as well. 

Pending the outcome of Middle Tennessee’s game against UAB, there could be a three-way tie atop the East Division between the Herd, Panthers and Blue Raiders. In the event each team has a 6-2 league record, MTSU wins the tiebreaker because it and Marshall only have one loss in division play, while FIU would have two. The Blue Raiders have the tiebreaker over the Herd on the strength of a head-to-head-win. 





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