— By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The rebound ability of Marshall will be tested Saturday afternoon at Joan C. Edwards Stadium as the Herd hosts Charlotte in a Conference USA East Division contest.
The game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. and will be shown live nationally on ESPN+.
Marshall (5-4, 3-2) comes into the game off a 26-24 league loss at Southern Miss, while Charlotte (4-5, 3-2) played out of the conference last week, falling at Tennessee 14-3.
Postseason possibilities are on the line for both teams, as Marshall needs one more win to gain bowl eligibility, while the 49ers need to win two of their last three games to reach six wins.
Here are three things to look for in Saturday’s game.
1. Channeling the 75
This is Marshall’s annual ‘Blackout’ game, the home game each year when the program and community honors the memory of the 75 Marshall football players, coaches, administrators and fans that died in a plane crash near Tri-State Airport on November 14, 1970 after a game at East Carolina.
The Herd will wear black jerseys and their helmets will bear two logos — the number 75 and the logo worn on the helmets of the 1971 Young Thundering Herd football team that helped preserve football at Marshall after the crash.
In recent years, the Blackout game has proved to be inspirational for the Herd as they have won their past five, including a victory at Tulsa in 2013 on the day of the crash anniversary, which powered Marshall to a conference runner-up finish and victory over Maryland in the Military Bowl.
Marshall left Hattiesburg, Mississippi last week a disappointed group, but players say know the importance of week — not only for the team, but in the community.
2. Getting rid of the rust
Redshirt freshman Isaiah Green will start at quarterback for Marshall against the 49ers after returning to action last week in the middle of the Southern Miss game.
Green’s return from a leg injury suffered in the Western Kentucky was less than auspicious as he fumbled the football on his first play back, a fumble the Golden Eagles turned into a touchdown.
Green looked to be a bit more comfortable in the second half against a tough defense, but he still couldn’t make enough plays to help Marshall overcome a four-turnover performance.
Marshall head coach Doc Holliday and offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey are rolling the dice that Green will be able to make big improvements this week, even though he’s going against the second-toughest defense in Conference USA.
The key for Green will be getting the ball into the hands of the Herd’s top receiver, Tyre Brady, who caught one ball last week for 17 yards and fumbled on the play. Brady has been targeted by defenses who fear his speed and hands, but needs to find a way to be a bigger factor.
Green also must feed passes to senior receiver Marcel Williams, who had a big-game last week with seven catches and 139 yards. If Green can’t get the job done against the 49ers, the coaching staff could have a quick hook and he could again be replaced by junior transfer Alex Thomson.
Thomson started last week and earlier led Marshall to wins over Old Dominion and Florida Atlantic.
3. How much scoring will we see?
This could be the ultimate defensive struggle, as Marshall and Charlotte’s defense are in the top half in Conference USA. The two teams are especially tough against the run (Charlotte is No. 3 nationally and Marshall No. 13), possibly meaning tough sledding for Marshall backs Tyler King and Keion Davis and Charlotte’s Benny LeMay.
Making life tough for the offenses will be defensive standouts on both squads such as Marshall’s Channing Hames, Malik Gant and Ryan Bee and 49ers’ defensive end Alex Highsmith and ball-hawking linebacker Juwan Foggie, who leads all of FBS with six interceptions this season.
Any success by the offenses will be based on protecting the football and connecting on throws downfield, something Marshall might benefit from due to its stable of wide receivers as well as tight end Armani Levias.
A defensive struggle will also put lots of pressure on the kicking game, so look for Marshall to ride the suddenly strategic punts of Robert LeFevre in a close game when field position switches are needed.
NOTES: Marshall will honor the memory of former running back Devon Johnson during the game. Johnson died at Bluefield Regional Medical Center on Tuesday at age 25. Johnson helped lead Marshall to the 2014 Conference USA title and a win in the Boca Raton Bowl … Scores of Marshall Football alumni are expected to be on hand for Saturday’s game as they’ve been invited to take part in pregame activities remembering the plane crash victims … The game will be a Homecoming for Charlotte football family members with Marshall ties such as head coach Brad Lambert and offensive line coach Chris Scelfo, who were part of former Herd coach Jim Donnan’s staff from 1990-1995. Charlotte’s strength and conditioning coach Jim Durning is a Marshall graduate and three members of the 49ers team are the sons of former Marshall football players — Dylan Ratliff (the late Phil Ratliff), Caleb Parker (Chris Parker) and Cody Bartrum (Mike Bartrum) … There is also a 49er player who grew up near the Marshall campus in redshirt junior offensive lineman Trevor Stacy from Spring Valley High School.