By Bill Cornwell
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — After 15 practices, including a spirited Green-White Spring Game on Saturday, Marshall football is ready to move forward.
An estimated crowd of 6,000 turned out on a sunny day and saw the White team, comprised of offensive players, secure a 28-20 victory against the Green squad, which was made up of defenders.
“Everything that we do from meetings, the way our kids act and how they do things is so much better right now,” MU head coach Tony Gibson said. “We have a great grasp of who we have and I feel really comfortable with the staff and the team.
“I like this team a lot.”
Returning starting quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson played two series and led the offense to a pair of touchdowns before ending his day. He was 4-for-5 with 68 yards and ran three times for 13 yards.
The offense got contributions from several players that could take on expanded roles come fall, including West Georgia transfer running back T.J. Lester and two former West Virginia Mountaineers in quarterback Khalil Wilkins and wide receiver Christian Hamilton.
Both Wilkins and Hamilton made plays on the ground, including Hamilton’s 24-yard touchdown run.
Lester showed quickness and strength while amassing 45 yards on six carries.
Marshall played five quarterbacks (Del Rio-Wilson, Wilkins, Zion Turner, Koi Fagan and freshman Dylan Barber) and showcased multiple receivers, including redshirt senior Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw, who had four receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown.
“I don’t know what anybody else has, but I know we have three guys who have started football games at this level or higher,” Gibson said of the Herd quarterbacks. “I don’t know of anyone else in the country with that much depth. These are also guys who fit our system. They can do what we need them to do for us to win games.”
Several veteran Herd players sat out Saturday, including tight end Toby Payne, wide receiver Adrian Norton and offensive lineman Jalen Slappy.
The Marshall defense was able to score points through a scoring system rewarding it for stops and takeaways.
Saturday was a full day of activity for Herd football beginning with the Fountain Ceremony where the Memorial Student Center Fountain was turned on for the spring, summer and early fall.
The fountain is a memorial to the 75 victims involved in the Marshall football plane crash on November 14, 1970.
Gibson and the coaching staff, as well as the entire roster attended the fountain ceremony and ended the day after the scrimmage by hanging with fans who were invited on to the field at Joan C. Edwards Stadium for pictures and autographs.
“I’d like to thank the fans for a great turnout,” Gibson said. “That’s what it’s all about in spring games — get the fans back and involved and give them a taste of football again.”
Marshall’s regular season opener is September 5 at Penn State. The Herd welcome Middle Tennessee the following Saturday for its first home game.