10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

Knox leads Marshall past Florida Atlantic, 36-31

— By David Walsh

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Brenden Knox took over for Marshall University in the second half of its big Conference USA contest at Florida Atlantic on Friday night.

Knox piled up 220 rushing yards, the biggest a 17-yard touchdown run with 36 seconds to play, to give the Thundering Herd a 36-31 win over the Owls to spoil their homecoming in front of 15,138 fans inside FAU Stadium.

On the first play after the late go-ahead score, Marshall defensive back Steven Gilmore came up with an interception to seal the win.

Knox carried 23 times with another score, that a 1-yard run just before halftime, as the two teams battled to a 17-17 draw. The previous high for Knox was 204 rushing yards in last season’s loss at Virginia Tech.

“This is huge, especially on the road,” Knox said. “The offensive line got the push. Show up when your number’s called. Time to celebrate.”

As a team, the Herd piled up 254 yards on the ground, quarterback Isaiah Green had 206 passing for 460. The Owls got 362 yards passing from quarterback Chris Robison, but the ground game managed just 57 yards on 36 tries.

In the second half, Marshall had to keep fighting back. Green hit Willie Johnson on a 60-yard TD strike to put the Herd back on top 30-24. FAU countered with a 7-play, 69-yard drive to regain the lead when Malcolm Davidson scored on a 2-yard run with 3:36 to play.

Green started the decisive drive with a 17-yard pass to Corey Cammage on a 3rd-and-9 at the Marshall 31. Knox later had a 30-yard run, but a penalty after the play put the ball at the FAU 35. Knox took over from there. He ran 10 yards, then 4 yards twice to set up his score.

“I’m so proud of our players,” Herd coach Doc Holliday said. “We kept overcoming adversity. When we had to make stops, we did. Knox is a tough kids. If we keep fighting, we can be a good football team.”

The Herd also stopped FAU on fourth down twice in the second half as well, once at the 23 and once at the 36.

Marshall (4-3, 2-1 C-USA) returns home next week to face East Division leader Western Kentucky. Kickoff for homecoming at Joan C. Edwards Stadium is 2:30 p.m.

Marshall, aided by two pass interference calls and one face mask, got a 30-yard field goal by Justin Rohrwasser to take a 3-0 lead at 11:38 in the first period.

FAU came right back as Robison completed all four passes and then ran 1 yard for a TD on the first possession for the Owls.

After a Marshall punt, the Owls struck quickly with Robison connecting with tight end John Raine for 61 yards down the Herd 10. Larry McCammon III notched the score on a 1-yard run to make it 14-3.

Marshall came right back as Green hit Armani Levias on a crossing route and the tight end broke at least two tackles and sprinted 59 yards for the score.

In the second, the Owls appeared to get a break when Akileis Leroy picked off a pass and made a short return to the 26. However, the Marshall defense rose up and forced FAU to settle for a 32-yard field goal by Vladimir Rivas.

Marshall got the ball at its 7 after the kickoff and went 93 yards for the tying score. Knox was the workhorse with 83 yards on the march, including a 1-yard TD run. He had runs of 43 and 31 yards to set up the score.





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