Story By Dave Walsh
BOWLING GREEN, KY – The three-week break between games didn’t slow the Thundering Herd one bit. Marshall needed just two offensive plays to score the first touchdown of the game and didn’t slow down the rest of the night, rolling over Western Kentucky 38-14.
Marshall dominated on both sides of the ball. Brenden Knox had scoring runs covered 45, 1 and 9 yards and he finished with 107 yards on 15 carries. Wells hits on 16-of-22 for 162 yards.
The Herd defense limited the Hilltoppers to 294 total yards on the night and 85 on the ground. Tavante Beckett recovered three fumbles including a 38-yard scoop and score in the third quarter.
“I’m just proud of our football team. I was concerned, coming into this game with a team that a lot of people had picked to win our league, being off three weeks and being rusty but our kids came out and started fast,” remarked coach Doc Holliday.
Marshall (1-0 C-USA, 3-0 overall) had been off since its Sept. 19 home victory over then nationally-ranked Appalachian State.
On offense, Marshall had 263 total yards in the first half. Wells threw for 137, Knox ran for 82 and three touchdowns and Thomspon caught four passes for 94 yards. They hooked up for a 30-yard pass on the first play of the game.
The Herd defense got into the scoring column in the third period when Western Kentucky back Jakairi Moses fumbled at his 36 and Herd linebacker Tavante Beckett sprinted in, picked it up and sped to the end zone for a TD and 35-0 lead.
“It’s a tribute to our defensive coaches. The three weeks we had, we spent a lot of time going good on good. It still comes down to blocking and tackling. If you’ve got a shot at being a good football team, at some point you have to play defense,” assessed Holliday.
Western Kentucky inserted Kevaris Thomas at quarterback for Tyrrell Pigrome, the league’s offensive player of the week a week earlier. He had just 61 yards passing and 28 rushing.
Shane Cuicci came on to boot 28-yard field goal to give Herd a 38-0 lead. Sheldon Evans spelled Knox on the drive and had 21 yards rushing in the 11-play drive.
Western Kentucky’s offense finally came to life as Thomas hooked up with Xavier Thomas for 51 yards down to the Herd 6. Thomas would score on a 2-yard run on the final play of the third period. The Hilltoppers covered 75 yards in five plays. They then attempted an onside kick, but Marshall recovered.
Marshall returns to action next Saturday against Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La. The Herd then is scheduled to return home on Oct. 24 to face Middle Tennessee State for its homecoming.
Western Kentucky had won five of its last six homecoming games.