— By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Marshall’s getting used to playing and winning nail-biters.
This time Jorge Diaz Nicolas booted a 32-yard field goal with 6 seconds left to allow the Thundering Herd to take down upset-minded Gardner-Webb, 36-35, Saturday in front of 25,710 fans at Joan C. Edwards Stadium to make it a happy Homecoming.
RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE https://t.co/s5vdYyvSPF pic.twitter.com/LPtyrUQpDf
— Marshall Football (@HerdFB) September 26, 2026
It marks the third straight week the Herd prevailed in a down-to-the-wire contest. It edged Middle Tennessee State, 28-26, two weeks ago and had a repeat last week in a 30-24 win at Missouri State.
Gardner-Webb, a FCS program, is now 1-4. It had a chance to take a 38-33 lead with 1:57 left, but Aidan Bonde missed a 27-yard field goal.
Then the MU offense, led by quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, moved into position to win it. A big play was a 27-yard pass to De’Andre Tamarez on the final drive for a first down at the visitor’s 39.
While Herd players, coaches, staff and fans celebrated the big moment, coach Tony Gibson knew his team had pulled off a great escape.
“We didn’t deserve to win the football game today,” Gibson said. “We got outplayed, out-coached. On the positive side the kids kept fighting and found a way. We were sloppy. The defense is an embarrassment right now. Too many explosive plays. Give the defense credit, the last drive they stood up and forced the missed field goal. I don’t know why the guys wait right to the end to win games like that. Guess they like doing it the hard way. I told them if they keep doing that you’re going to need a new coach, you’re going to kill me.
“We have to be better Sunday through Friday. I thought we had a good week this week. Got to be more excited on Saturday. Better get a lot of stuff fixed in a hurry. You know what’s ahead of us. We all know what’s looming ahead next Saturday in Harrisonburg (Va.). We get the king of the Sun Belt (Conference). We’ve got a lot to fix. Got to play better, coach better.”
Marshall (3-1) opens Sun Belt play next Saturday against James Madison in Harrisonburg, Va. The Dukes are defending league champs. The game starts at 3:45 p.m. It will be on ESPNU live.
Del Rio-Wilson completed 26-of-38 passes for a career-high 386 yards and three scored. He ran for 48 on 16 carries for 434 total yards. Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw caught eight for 131 yards and two scores,. Toby Payne snared nine for 57. Marshall piled up 569 total yards.
Gardner-Webb struck for two quick scores, then the Herd defense settled down. After halftime, the defense didn’t measure up to Gibson.
“It was embarrassing,” he said. “After the first two drives we settled down. Defensively it was one of those days. We didn’t play well at all in the second half. I know it sounds like a broken record.Guys wide open. There’s a lot of stuff we need to fix. I’ve said it we keep fighting, we don’t quit. They don’t let up. We have eight more left, I’ll take eight one-point wins. We have to help ourselves and we’re not doing that right now.”
Cole Pennington, former Herd quarterback who left for Gardner-Webb before last season and since moved in as the starter, at quite a day in his old surroundings.
Pennington, whose dad Chad played at Marshall before going to the NFL, hit on 22-of-33 passes for 298 yards and four scores — two in each half.
Gibson knows the Runnin’ Bulldogs are going to win games with Pennington and his supporting cast.
“Gardner-Webb is a good football team,” Gibson said. “We all know the quarterback is a really good player. Nothing rattles him. He kept sitting in there making throws, being efficient at what they do. They’ve been through a lot. They’re going to win a lot of football games.”
Gibson senses Del Rio-Wilson could get the Herd to win it with a TD or field goal.
“Carlos is a competitive kid,” Gibson said. You get 560 yards offense you can’t complain. The two-point play (which would have tied the game 35-35) the guy’s not on the line of scrimmage. I don’t know what happens. We have 13 seconds left, could try one in the end zone, but I took the runoff. I didn’t feel comfortable. Take a sack there and the game’s over. We had a plan. Jorge made it.
“I’m still waiting for us to play a full game. We have not done that yet. Hopefully it will come together sooner than later.”
Pennington had two TD passes and the Runnin’ Bulldogs scored on a 36-yard scoop and score after a Del Rio-Wilson fumbled the ball while trying to pass. Ruben Tshilombo got the TD for a 21-17. The play got a review and it stood. Jo’shon Barbie’s 5-yard TD run gave the Herd the halftime lead 27-21.
Pennington’s 25-yard TD pass to Kory Jones gave the Runnin’ Bulldogs a 28-27 lead in the third and his 44-yard strike to Giovanni Adopte pushed the margin to 35-27 with 9:24 to play.
Del Rio-Wilson found Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw on a 34-yard TD with 6:06 left. The Herd went for two to tie, made it, but got called for a penalty. The Herd tried again, but that attempt failed.
Gardner-Webb’s two TDs in the second half came on long drives covering 91 and 80 yards.
After the 2-point miss, the Runnin’ Bulldogs drove to the Marshall 4. The big play was a 59-yard run by Christian Vann. The defense then held and Bonde missed the field goal.
Nicolas has now kicked three fields in each of the last two games. He said he was calm before the winning kick even after Gardner-Webb called a timeout to ice him.
“No change for me,” Diaz Nicolas said. “I don’t get many chances to do the job. I was prepared. Everything’s for the team. I go out there and the coaches believe in me. After the timeout, I said be confident and did some deep breathing. My teammates we so happy for me.”
Del Rio-Wilson was selected preseason offensive player of the year in the Sun Belt. He’s showing why.
“I knew what we had to do,” he said. “After they missed the field goal, the offense came together. Execute for a field goal or one in the box (TD). No panic. Been there before, we went back to what we know and have to do.”
Pennington completed 12-of-16 passes for 160 yards and two scores in the first half. Adopte caught three for 75 yards. They had 222 yards in total offense.
Marshall produced 328 first-half yards. Del Rio-Wilson completed 12-of-18 for 197 yards and two scores. Turner-Bradshaw caught four passes for 88 yards.