— By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Missouri State secured its first win as the new kid on the FBS block while new Marshall coach Tony Gibson now must wait another week to try to secure his first win a head man for the Thundering Herd.
That turn of events came about Saturday night when quarterback Jacob Clark executed an 80-yard, game-winning drive late in the fourth period to lift the Bears to the win, 21-20, over the Herd and 28,564 stunned fans at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
“Very disheartened and disappointed in the outcome,” Gibson said. “Give credit to coach (Ryan) Beard and his staff. They outplayed us, out-coached us.”
With less than 4 minutes left in the game, Clark’s 55-yard pass to Ramone Green Jr. on a screen call on third-and-14 from its 27 set up the deciding touchdown. Clark followed with an 11-yard pass to Makai Cope for a first down at the Marshall 8, then fired an 8-yard TD strike to tight end Jeron Askren for the go-head score with 2:12 left on the clock.
It was Askren’s first career touchdown and capped a 359-yard passing night for Clark, the fifth-best single-game total and ninth 300-yard game of his career. He also went over 5,000 yards for his career.
“That quarterback’s a good player. He’s really good,” said Gibson, who earlier in the week stressed the Herd must contain this drop-back passer. “He made some really nice throws. The disappointing ones were the two screens. We knew they were a screen team coming in. We worked on it. Those are two big-league plays. When he can sit back there and throw it up.”
Missouri State amassed 474 total yards to 274 for Marshall (0-2). Green caught five passes for 123 yards and a score and Jmariyae Robinson six for 85 yards and a TD.
Marshall had three runners with 60 or more yards rushing. One was quarterback Zion Turner who got the start and went the distance. He completed 13-of-24 with one pick for just 83 yards.
Missouri State (1-1) trailed 20-7 midway through the third period. The go-ahead score became possible when Herd kicker Lorcan Quinn saw a 26-yard field goal try hit the right upright with 7:37 left and the home team ahead, 20-14. The Herd had gone 73 yards only to be turned away by the Missouri State defense in the red zone. On the play before the missed field goal, Turner failed to hook up with Bryan Robinson on a fade in the end zone on a third-and-1 at the 8 of the Bears.
“We had an opportunity at the end,” Gibson said. “We played too many snaps (70-57). “That goes back to the other side of the ball, not being able to sustain drives and keep them off the field. That (missed field goal) changed everything. That’s on coaching. We had an RPO called. Should have locked it and ran the ball.”
On the decisive drive, the Bears started at their 20 and survived two sacks on the game-winning drive. Clark went 5-for-5 on the march. Clark finished 22-of-32 with 3 touchdown passes and a 187.7 QB rating. He also snared a 29-yard pass — the first of his career. After Marshall took a 20-7 lead, Clark found Robinson on the 52-yard bomb to make it a one-score game.
The Bears survived another close call in the third when their defense stopped the Herd short on a fake punt try at the 34. Clark then moved the visitors to the Herd 1, but a pass interference call stopped the drive and Yousef Obeid’s missed a 40-yard field goal try.
Marshall went 3-for-15 on third down and saw Missouri State control the clock for 34:34.
Missouri State out-gained Marshal 474-274 on the night, converting 18 first downs to 12 by the home club. The Bears’ defense also held Marshall to 3-of-15 on third down and controlled the clock to the tune of 34:34.
Missouri State scored first, but that strike woke up the Herd’s offense from a first-period slumber. The TD came on a 57-yard strike from Clark to Green, who tightroped down the right sideline for the final 48 yards.
Marshall then responded with two 70-plus yard scoring drives to take the lead. The first came on a 14-yard run by Turner at the 11:07 mark.
The Herd cashed in on a gamble to take the lead. On a fourth-and-one from the 37, Justin Williams-Thomas got free over the left side and ran to pay dirt. A personal foul on the Bears helped Marshall sustain the drive.
Right before the half, Marvae Myers picked off a Clark pass and returned it 36 yards to the Missouri State 36. The Herd would have to settle for a 50-yard field goal by Quinn to take the 17-7 lead at the half.
“We had a big second quarter. We had a lot of momentum,” Gibson said. “As we all know it’s a momentum game. I’m disappointed for our team. That locker room is hurting in there right now. They wanted this one. We have to figure this thing out.”
Missouri State is making the FBS move from the Missouri Valley. The Bears are 2-3 all-time vs. the Sun Belt with all games before Saturday against Arkansas State.
Marshall is back in action next Saturday against Eastern Kentucky. Game time is 6 p.m.
The new Dutch Miller Deck (north end zone) opened for the first time Saturday night. It’s attached to Shewey Athletic Center. There are two levels of fan accommodations field level above entrance to MU locker room.