Marshall University Athletics
Saturday, November 24
Miami, Fla.
12:00 PM
Marshall University
8-3 , 6-2
28
at
25
FIU
8-4 , 6-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Marshall
14
0
7
7
28
FIU
3
7
0
15
25
Photo by: Eric Espada
MCGILL: Florida boys help Herd top FIU, snag eighth win
11/24/2018 3:48:00 PM | Football, Word on the Herd
Box Score
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By Chuck McGill
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HerdZone.com
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MIAMI – Marshall's Florida boys had their day in the sun. Â
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Senior linebacker Frankie Hernandez, who hails from Largo, Florida, made the first tackle. Senior receiver Tyre Brady, from nearby Homestead, made the team's first catch and, later, the game's first touchdown. Punta Gorda produced junior defensive lineman Ty Tyler, who was credited with the Thundering Herd's first hurry. Port St. Lucie's own Omari Cobb, a junior linebacker, made a statement in the first quarter with a sack, tackle for a loss, interception and defensive touchdown.
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Then, with the Marshall offense scuffling and the team without a point for 33 minutes and 14 seconds of game clock, Largo native Brandon Drayton made the play that spoiled FIU's quest to clinch a spot in next week's Conference USA championship game. Drayton, a sophomore, darted through the line and blocked a punt that rolled into the end zone, and he dove on the loose ball for a touchdown.
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The combined effort propelled Marshall to a 28-25 win at Riccardo Silva Stadium on a warm and sunny afternoon, but not without late-game drama. The Thundering Herd improved to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in C-USA play, tying for the East Division crown but losing out on a chance to play in the league title game because of tiebreakers. FIU fell to 8-4 overall and 6-2 in C-USA, and will watch Middle Tennessee in the championship game against UAB.
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The Herd can play spoilers again next Saturday when it travels to Blacksburg, Virginia, to face Virginia Tech (5-6). The Hokies need a win against Marshall to extend a 25-year bowl streak.
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But first, the Herd wrapped up league play with its third consecutive win. Marshall held on even though FIU tried to rally with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns. The Panthers scored with 12:45 left to make it 21-18 after the 2-point conversion, and then answered a Marshall touchdown with a lengthy nine-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Napoleon Maxwell with 4:47 left.
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From there, Marshall leaned on freshman running back Brenden Knox, who rushed for 45 of his game-high 109 yards on the final drive to help the Herd run out the clock on the Panthers' title hopes. The 10-play, 65-yard drive exhausted what was left of the game clock, giving Marshall win No. 8 in a game that featured three touchdowns by Marshall players wearing No. 8 (two by Brady; one by Drayton).
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Marshall tested FIU's secondary on its opening drive. Redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Green completed passes of 5, 9, 24, 26 and 16 yards, the last of which was a touchdown to Brady to open scoring. Green totaled 80 passing yards on the drive, and extended his streak of consecutive games with a scoring toss to eight games.
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Then, the Thundering Herd defense got the best of the Panthers' careful passer, James Morgan. Morgan attempted four consecutive passes, moving the ball down the field before Cobb darted unimpeded through the defensive line to force Morgan to throw the ball away. Morgan was called for intentional grounding, bringing up fourth down and giving Cobb a sack.
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After a Herd punt, FIU rushed twice before Morgan took to the air again, but Cobb stepped in front of a pass and returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0, Marshall, with 4:41 left of the first quarter. The interception was only Morgan's sixth of the season. It was also Marshall's final points of the first half.
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FIU kicker Jose Borregales booted a 22-yard field goal to cap a seven-play, 70-yard drive to cut the Panthers' deficit to 14-3 with 1:32 left of the first quarter. That drive featured a 37-yard run by FIU senior Napoleon Maxwell, the longest rush by an opposing player allowed by the Herd defense this season. Marshall entered Saturday's games as the only FBS team to have not allowed a run of 30 yards or longer this season.
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The Panthers sliced into the lead again early in the second quarter, capping a 10-play, 56-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Anthony Jones to make it 14-10, Herd, with 11:25 left.
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The teams traded missed field goals and went into halftime with the same score.
Green opened the third quarter by throwing an interception on a pass intended for Brady. The miscue ended Green's run of 94 consecutive passes without an interception against an FIU defense that entered Saturday ranked in the top 10 nationally in interceptions. FIU took over with choice field position, but could not capitalize when Borregales had a 43-yard field goal attempt blocked by Juwon Young, who started his collegiate career at the University of Miami.
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That gave Marshall a chance to pad its lead in the third quarter, but miscues plagued both offenses. The Herd went three-and-out, and then the Panthers had another drive end in an interception when senior linebacker Donyae Moody snagged his first career pick. Marshall then flipped field position with a 10-play, 53-yard drive, but that threat ended in the red zone when Green had another pass interception, this one at the FIU 5. Â
But after the Panthers' offense went three-and-out, Drayton blocked the kick that turned the game into the Herd's favor.
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Green finished 18 of 27 passing for 176 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Brady had a team-high five catches for 45 yards and two scores. Knox averaged 5.7 yards per rush on 19 carries.
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The Marshall defense flummoxed Morgan, who did not throw a touchdown pass and was intercepted twice. The Herd also did not allow a 100-yard rushing for the 12th consecutive game.
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Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a six-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
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By Chuck McGill
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HerdZone.com
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MIAMI – Marshall's Florida boys had their day in the sun. Â
Â
Senior linebacker Frankie Hernandez, who hails from Largo, Florida, made the first tackle. Senior receiver Tyre Brady, from nearby Homestead, made the team's first catch and, later, the game's first touchdown. Punta Gorda produced junior defensive lineman Ty Tyler, who was credited with the Thundering Herd's first hurry. Port St. Lucie's own Omari Cobb, a junior linebacker, made a statement in the first quarter with a sack, tackle for a loss, interception and defensive touchdown.
Â
Then, with the Marshall offense scuffling and the team without a point for 33 minutes and 14 seconds of game clock, Largo native Brandon Drayton made the play that spoiled FIU's quest to clinch a spot in next week's Conference USA championship game. Drayton, a sophomore, darted through the line and blocked a punt that rolled into the end zone, and he dove on the loose ball for a touchdown.
Â
The combined effort propelled Marshall to a 28-25 win at Riccardo Silva Stadium on a warm and sunny afternoon, but not without late-game drama. The Thundering Herd improved to 8-3 overall and 6-2 in C-USA play, tying for the East Division crown but losing out on a chance to play in the league title game because of tiebreakers. FIU fell to 8-4 overall and 6-2 in C-USA, and will watch Middle Tennessee in the championship game against UAB.
Â
The Herd can play spoilers again next Saturday when it travels to Blacksburg, Virginia, to face Virginia Tech (5-6). The Hokies need a win against Marshall to extend a 25-year bowl streak.
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But first, the Herd wrapped up league play with its third consecutive win. Marshall held on even though FIU tried to rally with a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns. The Panthers scored with 12:45 left to make it 21-18 after the 2-point conversion, and then answered a Marshall touchdown with a lengthy nine-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by senior Napoleon Maxwell with 4:47 left.
Â
From there, Marshall leaned on freshman running back Brenden Knox, who rushed for 45 of his game-high 109 yards on the final drive to help the Herd run out the clock on the Panthers' title hopes. The 10-play, 65-yard drive exhausted what was left of the game clock, giving Marshall win No. 8 in a game that featured three touchdowns by Marshall players wearing No. 8 (two by Brady; one by Drayton).
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Marshall tested FIU's secondary on its opening drive. Redshirt freshman quarterback Isaiah Green completed passes of 5, 9, 24, 26 and 16 yards, the last of which was a touchdown to Brady to open scoring. Green totaled 80 passing yards on the drive, and extended his streak of consecutive games with a scoring toss to eight games.
Â
Then, the Thundering Herd defense got the best of the Panthers' careful passer, James Morgan. Morgan attempted four consecutive passes, moving the ball down the field before Cobb darted unimpeded through the defensive line to force Morgan to throw the ball away. Morgan was called for intentional grounding, bringing up fourth down and giving Cobb a sack.
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After a Herd punt, FIU rushed twice before Morgan took to the air again, but Cobb stepped in front of a pass and returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0, Marshall, with 4:41 left of the first quarter. The interception was only Morgan's sixth of the season. It was also Marshall's final points of the first half.
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FIU kicker Jose Borregales booted a 22-yard field goal to cap a seven-play, 70-yard drive to cut the Panthers' deficit to 14-3 with 1:32 left of the first quarter. That drive featured a 37-yard run by FIU senior Napoleon Maxwell, the longest rush by an opposing player allowed by the Herd defense this season. Marshall entered Saturday's games as the only FBS team to have not allowed a run of 30 yards or longer this season.
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The Panthers sliced into the lead again early in the second quarter, capping a 10-play, 56-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by Anthony Jones to make it 14-10, Herd, with 11:25 left.
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The teams traded missed field goals and went into halftime with the same score.
Green opened the third quarter by throwing an interception on a pass intended for Brady. The miscue ended Green's run of 94 consecutive passes without an interception against an FIU defense that entered Saturday ranked in the top 10 nationally in interceptions. FIU took over with choice field position, but could not capitalize when Borregales had a 43-yard field goal attempt blocked by Juwon Young, who started his collegiate career at the University of Miami.
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That gave Marshall a chance to pad its lead in the third quarter, but miscues plagued both offenses. The Herd went three-and-out, and then the Panthers had another drive end in an interception when senior linebacker Donyae Moody snagged his first career pick. Marshall then flipped field position with a 10-play, 53-yard drive, but that threat ended in the red zone when Green had another pass interception, this one at the FIU 5. Â
But after the Panthers' offense went three-and-out, Drayton blocked the kick that turned the game into the Herd's favor.
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Green finished 18 of 27 passing for 176 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Brady had a team-high five catches for 45 yards and two scores. Knox averaged 5.7 yards per rush on 19 carries.
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The Marshall defense flummoxed Morgan, who did not throw a touchdown pass and was intercepted twice. The Herd also did not allow a 100-yard rushing for the 12th consecutive game.
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Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a six-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
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Team Stats
MAR
FIU
Total Yards
330
391
Pass Yards
176
201
Rushing Yards
154
190
Penalty Yards
60
17
1st Downs
21
25
3rd Downs
5
4
4th Downs
0
2
TOP
27:31
32:29
1st Quarter
MAR 7, FIU 0
MAR - BRADY, Tyre 16 yd pass from GREEN, Isaiah (ROHRWASSER, J. kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:01
MAR 14, FIU 0
MAR - COBB, Omari 25 yd interception (ROHRWASSER, J. kick)
MAR 14, FIU 3
FIU - BORREGALES, J. 22 yd field goal 7 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:09
2nd Quarter
MAR 14, FIU 10
FIU - JONES, Anthony 1 yd run (BORREGALES, J. kick), 10 plays, 56 yards, TOP 4:03
3rd Quarter
MAR 21, FIU 10
MAR - DRAYTON, B. 0 yd blocked punt return (ROHRWASSER, J. kick)
4th Quarter
MAR 21, FIU 18
FIU - ALEXANDER, C. 8 yd run (ALEXANDER, C. pass), 9 plays, 71 yards, TOP 3:38
MAR 28, FIU 18
MAR - BRADY, Tyre 3 yd pass from GREEN, Isaiah (ROHRWASSER, J. kick) 9 plays, 59 yards, TOP 4:03
MAR 28, FIU 25
FIU - MAXWELL, N. 1 yd run (BORREGALES, J. kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:55
Game Leaders
CMP
18
TD
2
YDS
176
INT
2
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
S
/ FootballQB
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LB
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RB
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LB
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DL
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