Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
3-3 , 0-2
Louisiana
3-3 , 1-2
Louisiana Spoils Herd Football's Home Sun Belt Debut
10/13/2022 12:26:00 AM | Football
Laborn rushes for 120 yards in defeat
HUNTINGTON, W.Va- New black helmets, a new conference, and a national audience locked in to see Marshall's Thundering Herd on a special Wednesday night game at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. It was the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns who spoiled the party, however, winning 23-13 in the Sun Belt Conference matchup.
"We have a lot of things to clean up, the discipline is what we need to clean up the most, the details," Marshall head football coach Charles Huff said. "I'm not discouraged by anything. But this is a real league, and in this league you can't win games by playing hard. You've got to play disciplined, you've got to execute in critical situations, and you've got to execute on both sides of the ball."
Marshall (3-3, 0-2 Sun Belt) took a quarter to warm up, compiling 33 total yards in the first. But starting quarterback Henry Colombi and the offense put a scoring drive together in the second, with an 11 play, 87 yard drive capped off with Khalan Laborn's 1-yard scamper. Laborn finished with 120 yards on 26 carries. The Herd took a 7-3 lead into the halftime break.
Following a 37-minute extended halftime lightning delay, Louisiana (3-3, 1-2 Sun Belt) dominated the second half, outgaining the hosts 136-19 in the third quarter. The Ragin' Cajuns outscored Marshall 13-0 in the third and Louisiana led Marshall 16-7 entering the fourth.
Trailing 23-7, redshirt-freshman Cam Fancher provided a spark in the final quarter, leading a 10 play, 75 yard drive, capped with Laborn's second score of the game. Fancher rushed for 23 yards on the drive. The Herd was unable to convert on the two-point conversion. Laborn, the sixth-year senior running back, now has 10 touchdowns this season.
Defensively, Abraham Beauplan led the way with 11 tackles. Eli Neal and Koby Cumberlander each recorded a sack.
Marshall football will now have 10 days to prepare for a showdown with undefeated No. 25 James Madison. Kickoff from Harrisonburg, Virginia is set for 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
LA 3, MAR 0
LA - Almendares,Kenneth 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 02:38
LA 3, MAR 7
MAR - Laborn,Khalan 1 yd run (Verhoff,Rece kick), 10 plays, 87 yards, TOP 05:26
LA 10, MAR 7
LA - Fleming,Dontae 6 yd pass from Wooldridge,Ben (Almendares,Kenneth kick) 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 02:40
LA 13, MAR 7
LA - Almendares,Kenneth 33 yd field goal 8 plays, 61 yards, TOP 03:06
LA 16, MAR 7
LA - Almendares,Kenneth 52 yd field goal 6 plays, 14 yards, TOP 02:11
LA 23, MAR 7
LA - Jefferson,Michael 32 yd pass from Wooldridge,Ben (Almendares,Kenneth kick) 6 plays, 66 yards, TOP 02:30
LA 23, MAR 13
MAR - Laborn,Khalan 1 yd run (), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:07
