Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Charlotte
Litton, Allen Lead @HerdFB Past Charlotte, 34-10
10/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Final Stats
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Marshall football was powered by its offense on Saturday evening at Jerry Richardson Stadium, as it defeated the Charlotte 49ers, 34-10. The Herd had a total of 630 yards on offense, its highest total this season.
Marshall never trailed, moving to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in Conference USA. Charlotte falls to 2-6 (0-5 C-USA).
It was a career day for freshman quarterback Chase Litton (Tampa, Fla.), who passed for 486 yards with two touchdowns. Litton's 486 yards ranks third in Herd single-game history, only trailing Byron Leftwich (576, GMAC Bowl, 2001 vs. East Carolina) and Michael Payton (496, VMI, 1991).
Litton's top receiver Saturday was Davonte Allen (Belle Glade, Fla.), who had a career day for himself. Allen finished with 12 receptions for 232 yards, both career highs. The 232 yards ranks sixth in Herd single-game receiving history.
Marshall got on the board first, after the Herd's stingy defense forced a Charlotte three-and-out. On the first play of the drive, Litton hit Allen with a 43-yard strike to put MU at the 49ers' 16. Three plays later, running back Remi Watson (Lakeland, Fla.) found a hole and ran for a seven-yard touchdown at the 12:05 mark in the first quarter.
On the ensuing drive for the Thundering Herd, the passing game was vital for Marshall, as it started at its own three-yard line. Litton completed two passes on third down to keep the drive alive. Litton capped off the drive with a 66-yard touchdown pass to Allen for Marshall's longest completion this season. It was Allen's 12th career touchdown catch.
After the two teams traded punts, Marshall took control of the ball, again at its own three-yard line at the 1:54 mark in the first quarter. On the first play of the drive, Litton hit Deandre Reaves (Sterling, Va.) for 17 yards to give the Herd some breathing room. Later in the drive, Marshall converted on a fourth-and-one off a Hyleck Foster (Gaffney, S.C.) three yard run up the middle. Three plays later, Litton connected on a 17-yard pass to tight end Ryan Yurachek (Myrtle Beach, S.C.), who got behind a linebacker and caught it in the corner of the endzone at 13:27 in the second quarter.
Marshall would once again begin an offensive drive inside its own 20, but this time at its 16-yard line. The Herd marched down the field, as it never faced a third down on the drive, and finished with a six-yard touchdown run by Keion Davis (Fairburn, Ga.) at 5:21 in the second quarter. The rushing touchdown was Davis' second of his career. The Herd and 49ers went on to trade field goals to put the score at 31-3 at halftime.
Marshall and Charlotte were both held scoreless in the third quarter, as neither team could capitalize on opportunities. The 49ers had its first turnover of the game, as Austin Duke fumbled and was recovered by Keith Baxter (Homestead, Fla.) and forced by Blake Keller (Bradenton, Fla.).
The Herd put the first points of the second half of the board at the 13:01 mark in the fourth quarter with a 39-yard field goal from Nick Smith (Plain City, Ohio) to give Marshall a 34-3 lead. In the next drive, Charlotte threw an interception on the first play of the drive to Corey Tindal (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) for his second of the season.
Charlotte eventually found a way into the endzone, as it put together a 14-play drive that went 75 yards, and ended on a six-yard rushing touchdown by Kalif Phillips to put the score at 34-10.
Up next, Marshall travels to Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 7 for a 3:30 p.m. EST kickoff.
