Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Middle Tennessee
@HerdFB Falls in Overtime at Middle Tennessee, 27-24
11/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Marshall football faced a setback on Saturday evening at Middle Tennessee, as it fell to the Blue Raiders in the third overtime period, 27-24.
The Herd drops to 8-2 (5-1 C-USA), while Middle Tennessee moves to 4-5 (3-2 C-USA).
Marshall was led on offense by freshman quarterback Chase Litton (Tampa, Fla.) with 346 yards passing and three touchdowns. Hyleck Foster (Gaffney, S.C.) had a team high 61 yards on the ground, while had 30 yards passing and 14 receiving yards. Pacing the Herd in receiving was Davonte Allen (Belle Glade, Fla.) with 112 yards and one touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, the Herd was led by Taj Letman (Elberton, Ga.) with 12 tackles and Gary Thompson (La Mesa, Calif.), who had six tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble.
Marshall found itself on the board first, but it wouldn't come without the help of its defense and offensive trickery. Midway through the first quarter and Middle Tennessee threatening inside the red zone, Marshall's Steve Dillon (Palmdale, Calif.) forced a fumble that was recovered by Devontre'a Tyler (Arcadia, Fla.). After starting the 11-play drive at its own 12 yard line, Marshall was assisted by two 30-yard passes, one coming from Litton to Deandre Reaves (Sterling, Va.), but the other coming from Foster to Justin Hunt (Memphis, Tenn.) that put Marshall inside the ten. A few players later, Litton hit Emanuel Byrd (Albany, Ga.) on a one-yard pass for a touchdown.
Middle Tennessee responded in the second quarter to tie the game at seven, after it went 67 yards in six plays. The drive was capped off by a 13-yard pass from Brent Stockstill to Terry Pettis.
The Herd defense kept Marshall in the game in the first half, as it forced three turnovers, which all occurred within its own 30-yard line. Marshall caused two fumbles inside the red zone, including one forced by Thompson and recovered by Ryan Bee (Ashland, Ohio). The Herd's third turnover came before the end of the half, as Antavis Rowe (Atlanta, Ga.) intercepted a pass by the Blue Raiders' wide receiver Austin Grammer in the end zone.
The Blue Raiders broke the 7-all tie at the 4:45 mark of the third quarter, as Stockstill connected on a pass to Richie James for a 12-yard touchdown. Middle Tennessee went on to add a field goal before the end of the quarter to put its lead at 17-7.
Marshall began to chip away at the 10-point lead of Middle Tennessee with a Nick Smith (Plain City, Ohio) 37-yard field goal at 10:11 in the fourth quarter. Two drives later, the Herd completed the comeback on a nine-play drive that went 62 yards. Litton completed a pass to Ryan Yurachek (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) for a 15-yard touchdown at 1:06.
The Herd had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but Marshall's kicker missed a 32-yard field goal.
Middle Tennessee wasted no time in the first overtime period, as Stockstill threw for a 27-yard touchdown to Ed Batties on the second play of the drive. In similar fashion, Marshall was quick to strike on its first drive of the overtime. Litton hit Allen on a 19-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the drive to send the game to the second overtime.
Kicking woes continued in the second overtime period for Marshall, but also Middle Tennessee. After the Herd missed a go-ahead field goal in their drive, the Blue Raiders missed a 31-yard field goal with the chance to win the game.
In the third overtime, Middle Tennessee started with the ball first. The Herd defense stood tall, as it forced four negative yards on the four-play drive that ended with a 46-yard field goal for the Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee's defense responded by forcing Marshall only to four plays on its drive. The Herd lined up for a 39-yard field goal attempt to extend the game, but an Amoreto Curraj (Tampa, Fla.) kick was blocked by the Blue Raiders.
Up next, Marshall welcomes the FIU Panthers on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 3:30 p.m.
