— By David Walsh
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Running back Judah Price is one of few players who made a good impression on Marshall coach Tony Gibson in Saturday’s 27-21 loss to Coastal Carolina at waterlogged Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
The sophomore and former standout at Independence High had a career night rushing and spearheaded the Thundering Herd rally from late in the third quarter to the hectic closing minutes.
Price carried 12 times for 124 yards and a score, a 50-yard dash up the middle with 2:46 left in the third quarter. That run got the Herd offense energized. He later hauled in a 9-yard TD pass from Zion Turner with 2:46 left in the game to make it 27-14.
The Herd recovered an onside kick and scored another touchdown to make it a one-possession margin, but couldn’t duplicate that feat and fell short.
Marshall is now 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the Sun Belt Conference, and it next plays Tuesday, October 20 in a home game against South Alabama.
“Nobody’s job is secure right now,” Gibson said. “Play guys now who are going to make plays. I’m happy with Judah Price tonight. Thought he played outstanding. That guy cares. If we’ve got a bunch of guys who care and give everything to this program, those guys are going to play. Guys who don’t care enough won’t play here.”
Price said he enjoyed his moment, but it would’ve been more to savor if the Herd won.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity I got tonight,” Price said. “I’ve been looking forward to it for a long, long time. Go as hard as I can in a game to the end. Keep fighting. It would’ve been awesome if we got the win. To tell the truth we value the open week. Stay positive. We’re a good football team. It’s hard to win when you make six turnovers.”
In Saturday’s game, played in heavy rain most of the night, the Herd had four turnovers on its first four possessions. Starting quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. Two more second-half fumbles would follow and help the Chanticleers bolt to the 27-0 lead.
Turner and fellow quarterback Khalil Wilkins sparked the offense. Wilkins, a transfer from West Virginia, also spent time at running back and gained 45 yards on seven carries. Turner finished 18-of-27 for 219 yards and two scores.
“Went from bad to sweet,” Turner said. “Anything can happen. When your number’s called, you’ve got to be prepared.”
Turner said time will tell who’ll the starter will be for South Alabama.
“Whoever coach calls,” Turner said. “Too many mistakes tonight. Take the criticism. We deserve it. We’ll learn a lot from this. We can’t waiver. We need to find our identity and fix it.”
On the effort from Price, Turner said, “He fights. He’s got great character.”
The Herd defense limited Coastal Carolina quarterback Deuce Bailey to 8-of-18 passing for 73 yards and one score. That’s an unusually low output for the transfer from Missouri State along with coach Ryan Beard.
“We knew Deuce was an explosive player,” Marshall defensive back Caleb Clark-Glover said. “We had to contain him, no big plays. We’re not playing to our standard. Keep bowing up.”
Gibson felt the unit’s effort was something to build on.
“I’m proud of our defense. They fought and kept us in the game,” Gibson said. “Four turnovers and we’re down 13-0 at halftime. We didn’t make some plays at quarterback, had dropped balls behind coverage. A bad, bad night offensively.
“The defense made strides this week. We tackled well, we responded a little bit. I’m proud they kept us in it. Without their effort, that game could’ve gotten out of hand in a hurry. I’m proud of the way the kids kept fighting after what we did in the first half. Nobody gave up and fought to the end. It was not good enough. Should’ve never been the spot we were in.”
Marshall had the ball in the red zone five times, but only scored twice.
“We’ve got to take care of the football,” Gibson said. “The one Toby (Payne) caught he got hit in the air and the ball flies out. Those things happen. When players drop the ball on the ground and it’s right to guys, that’s careless. That’s not caring in my opinion. Those things will get worked out. We’ll play the guys we think can give us our best chance to win. It’s taken six weeks to figure all that out. I’m glad we’ve got some extra time to get ready for a good South Alabama team. We’ve got to fix ourselves first and we’ve got a lot of fixing to do.”
Del Rio-Wilson, SBC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, struggled mightily.
“Carlos played horrible,” Gibson said. “I thought Khalil came in and gave us a spark running the football. The kid’s a competitor. We executed the plan on defense. The first play of the second half they got out on us. We have the wrong group. Still it’s a run and we’ve got to get the guy on the ground. A lot of what ifs tonight. Turn the ball over six times and lose by six points, a lot of guys played well, but not well enough.
“Everything gets evaluated. What we’re doing right now and who we’re doing it with is not right. Carlos is not playing good enough. It’s a big boy business. If we have to play two, we will. Laying the ball on the ground and throwing the ball right to guys that’s unacceptable. Have I given up on Carlos? No. He has to come out and work everyday. It’s a competition. I can’t put this football team in jeopardy because we can’t take care of the ball.”