Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Herd dominant in opener, gets ready for Notre Dame trip
9/4/2022 1:16:00 PM | Football, Word on the Herd
Huff called Saturday's outcome an "organizational win" for Marshall
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall's first football game as a member of the Sun Belt Conference would, naturally, include a long list of firsts.
Caleb McMillan recorded the first touch of the Sun Belt era. Kicker Rece Verhoff scored the first points. Local product — Poca's Ethan Payne — scored the first touchdown. Later, Payne became the first to produce a multi-TD effort in the SBC. First defensive score: Owen Porter, another locally grown Thundering Herd football player.
By the time Marshall had concluded its opening game, it was nothing but sunshine. The Herd easily handled Norfolk State, 55-3, in front of 24,607 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
"It was a really good organizational win," said Charles Huff, who opened his second season as Marshall's head coach. "I'm really proud of the players, staff, police escorts, people who are cleaning the stadium tonight … everybody who pulled the rope to get to this point, the first game, the first home game. It was a great organizational win."
Verhoff — a 30-yard field goal — and Payne's 45-yard touchdown run took care of Marshall's scoring in the first quarter before a four-TD breakout in the second period. First-time starter Khalan Laborn, in place of All-American Rasheen Ali, scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 4-yard run to begin the second quarter. Porter's 21-yard scoop-and-score fumble return widened the margin to 24-0. Then, first-time starting quarterback Henry Colombi found receiver Corey Gammage for his first passing TD in a Marshall uniform. Colombi capped the quarter's scoring with a 7-yard run to make it 38-0 at intermission.
The second half was more of the same. Laborn scored on a 22-yard run with 12:51 left of the third quarter to make it 45-0, and then freshman tight end Toby Payne joined his brother's scoring party with an 11-yard touchdown reception a few minutes later.
Verhoff's second field goal, a 27-yarder, rounded out the scoring for the Herd. From there, Huff shifted his focus to gaining experience for newcomers. Overall, Marshall played six different quarterbacks, including four on one particular drive.
"We got the opportunuity to play a lot of guys today, which doesn't always happen," Huff said. "Sometimes those guys will work all camp and then they don't get a chance to touch the field. I thought it was good for them to get in and have some success."
Nine different players carried the ball. Twelve players recorded at least one reception, headlined by Talik Keaton's eight receptions and 71 yards. Punter John McConnell was only needed to punt once. Colombi recorded the second-best completion percentage in school history — 92.3 percent — after connecting on 24 of 26 pass attempts in his Herd debut.
"I thought Henry played really efficient today," Huff said. "That was the biggest boost of confidence … Henry made some really good, efficient decisions."
Defensively, Charlie Gray led the way with eight tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Defensive end Koby Cumberlander finished with seven tackles, a sack and 2.5 tackles for a loss. Defensive back Micah Abraham intercepted a pass.
Marshall returns to action this Saturday in a much-anticipated matchup at Notre Dame, which opened the season in the Top 5 of the national rankings. The Fighting Irish, who lost to No. 2 Ohio State, 21-10, to open the season, will host the Herd at Notre Dame Stadium for a 2:30 kickoff on NBC.
Chuck McGill is the Associate Athletic Director for External Engagement and Fan Experience 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).
