Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Marshall, App State set to battle on ESPN
9/23/2021 9:10:00 AM | Football, Word on the Herd
Old Southern Conference rivals will play Thursday night in front of national TV audience
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
BOONE, N.C. – The eyes of college football will be fixated on Kidd-Brewer Stadium on Thursday night, where a sold out crowd and a nationally televised audience awaits the rich traditions of two old Southern Conference rivals.
The hosts, Appalachian State, and the visitors, Marshall, each have 2-1 records and will cap non-conference play with Thursday's matchup on ESPN.
"Phenomenal environment; phenomenal football team; phenomenal football culture," said Charles Huff, Marshall's first-year football coach said of Appalachian State. "This program that we're going to play has been a successful program for a long time; they've won for a while."
The Mountaineers are coached by Shawn Clark, a West Virginia native who went to the same high school as Marshall starting quarterback Grant Wells. Clark is 12-4 in two-plus seasons as a head coach, although one of his four losses was last season in his return to the Mountain State to face the Thundering Herd at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
"The chance to put our program on a national stage, we're very excited for that," Clark said. "It's an old-time rivalry in the Southern Conference. Both teams have a great history and we're looking forward to it."
The all-time history is on App State's side. The Mountaineers hold a 14-9 edge in the series, although the Herd has won three consecutive games. Marshall won in 2020, 2002 and 1996 (in Boone), while App State's last win came in 1995 in Huntington. The last time the Mountaineers beat Marshall in Boone was 1994 – 27 years ago.
"This is a big-time football game," Clark said.
Both teams are a potential possession away from perfect records. Marshall has an offense that will appeal to the television spotlight – No. 2 in total offense, No. 3 in passing offense and No. 10 in scoring offense. The aforementioned Wells, who is repeating his redshirt freshman season after earning Conference USA Freshman of the Year honors a year ago, is No. 3 nationally in passing. Wells is 78 for 116 with 1,113 yards in three games. He has thrown for 300-plus yards in all three games this season, and established a new career high with 433 yards last week.
"Their quarterback, Grant Wells, he's from Charleston, West Virginia, my high school, I know a lot about him," Clark said. "He has a very strong arm; a very confident arm. He'll put it in places that not many people will do."
While Marshall has the bragging rights in the series and the high-octane offense, the Herd is trying to recover after last week's home loss to East Carolina. The Herd hasn't lost on the road since Nov. 23, 2019 at Charlotte.
"Obviously, a quick turnaround to go down there Thursday night in front of a national audience," Huff said.
Appalachian State is led by Chase Brice, a quarterback who has started games at ACC schools Clemson and Duke before landing in Boone. Brice is 60 for 86 passing this season with 751 yards and four touchdowns against two interceptions.
"It starts with the quarterback," Huff said. "I see him as the manager of the offense who can make the big throw. What does manager of the offense mean? It's not a disrespectful term. It's a term means he can take what the defense gives him; he knows the offensive system; he knows when to check out of plays; he knows when to check into plays … he can manage their system."
A week ago, Wells set a new career high in passing yards. Freshman running back Rasheen Ali set a new career high in rushing yards. Wells' favorite target, sophomore receiver Corey Gammage, set a new career high for receiving yards. Even so, Marshall squandered a 17-point fourth quarter lead and lost for the first time in the Huff era.
The Herd's head ball coach is making certain that doesn't happen again in front of an ESPN audience.
"You have to preach 'finish,'" he said.
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a nine-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).
