— By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The first play of the game and first play of the third period served as signs of things to come for Marshall against Coastal Carolina on a rainy Saturday evening at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
On the opening play, Thundering Herd quarterback Carlos Del-Rio Wilson threw an interception.
On the first play of the second half, Dominic Lee-Knicely sprinted 70 yards down the left sideline for a score to boost his team’s lead to 20-0 and the Chanticleers would hang on for a 27-21 victory.
“Six turnovers. No juice, energy,” Herd head coach Tony Gibson said. “I’m proud of our defense the way they fought. They kept us in the game. Just didn’t make the plays.”
Heavy rain resumed at the start of the third period and prompted some fans in the announced crowd of 23,029 not to return. Two quick scores prompted a further clear-out and those who departed missed a valiant comeback. The Herd scored a TD in the third and two in the fourth to cut the deficit to one score.
Coastal Carolina (2-4, 1-1 Sun Belt) recovered the second onside kick, recorded a first down and ran out the clock.
Marshall (3-3, 0-2) is off until an October 20th matchup against South Alabama.
“Everything gets evaluated now,” Gibson said. “We’ve got extra time to get ready. We’ve got a lot of fixing to do.”
Herd starter Carlos Del Rio-Wilson threw an interception on the first play of the game. However, the visitors gave the ball back on a pick.
On the second Herd drive, Del Rio-Wilson lost a fumble as Marshall was again plagued by self-inflicted miscues.
Coastal kicker Nico Cavanillas Alti booted a 26-yard field goal in the first period for a 3-0 lead.
After another pick by Del-Rio Wilson, the Chanticleers drove for a TD. It came on a 7-yard toss from Deuce Bailey to Karmello English for a 10-0 lead. Officials reviewed the play and the TD stood. Earlier, Bailey found Lee-Knicely for 29 yards to keep the drive alive.
Cavanillas Alti’s 40-yard field goal upped the visitors’ advantage to 13-0 at halftime.
After Lee-Knicely’s long third-quarter touchdown made it a 20-point margin, Coastal recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and moved its advantage to 27-0 on a 2-yard TD run from Jaden Allen-Hendrix.
In the third quarter, Khalil Wilkins became the third Herd quarterback to play and ripped off a 32-yard run on an option keeper on his first play.
On third-and-12 at the Coastal 17, Wilkins gained 9, but his fourth-down pass fell incomplete for the turnover on downs.
Marshall’s first score came on a 50-yard run by former Independence High star Judah Price. He finished with 124 yards rushing and became the first Marshall player to rush for more than 100 yards this season.
Price also caught a 12-yard TD pass from Zion Turner with 2:52 left to cut the Coastal lead to 27-14.
The Herd then executed an onside kick and got the recovery.
Turner would hit Owen Sweeney on a 19-yard TD pass with 2:14 remaining to make it 27-21.
This time, the Chanticleers recovered the onside kick, got a first down and ran out the clock
Marshall had 505 total yards to 308 for the Chanticleers..
Turner completed 18-of-27 for 219 yards and two scores.
Lee-Nicely paced Coastal Carolina with 169 yards on 25 carries.