Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
1-0 , 0-0
Stony Brook
0-1 , 0-0
Marshall Football Flies Past Stony Brook, 45-3
9/1/2024 12:15:00 AM | Football
All three Herd QBs throw TD passes as Air Raid debuts in win over Seawolves
Box Score | Coach Huff Post-Game Press Conference
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall Football got its 2024 season off to a successful start, dominating Stony Brook, 45-3, on Saturday afternoon in front of 25,032 fans at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
"This was a complete, university win tonight – not only with the players on the field, but with the entire staff and everybody involved," Marshall head coach Charles Huff said. "Obviously, we've still got a lot of work to do with 40 new players, but we got 40 new players in live action and were able to see how they responded."
The game served as the first action for Marshall in the new Air Raid offense, although the rushing attack proved just as effective throughout the matchup. The Herd amassed 549 yards of total offense with 259 yards on the ground and 290 through the air with three quarterbacks combining to complete 65 percent of their passes with five touchdowns and no turnovers.
A.J. Turner led the way for the Herd on the ground with 119 yards on eight carries, including an 80-yard run that got the 2024 scoring started for Marshall with 2:33 left in the first quarter.
House call!#WeAreMarshall pic.twitter.com/i1TTa6NCQe— Marshall Football (@HerdFB) August 31, 2024
Quarterback Stone Earle got the start for the Thundering Herd and finished 10 of 16 for 97 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another 55 yards in the win.
"It took a little bit to settle in, but once I settled in, I felt like I was just able to play my game," Earle said. "I saw some things that I missed that I could be better at, but at the end of the day, you take those (mistakes) and grow from them."
Earle started to get into a rhythm in the passing game, completing eight of nine passes over a stretch between halves with a pair of touchdown passes to wide receiver Elijah Metcalf, who caught three passes for 50 yards and two scores in his Herd debut.
"It was a great feeling," Metcalf said. "There's nothing like college football. I was so happy to be out there today, and I just tried to make some plays. I'm just happy that the guys trust in me and the coaches trust in me. Every week, I'm going to keep pressing forward to get better and better each week."
Slanting all the way to the endzone! pic.twitter.com/nLfUPIPQCp— Marshall Football (@HerdFB) September 1, 2024
Later, another pair of players hooked up for their first scores in Marshall uniforms as quarterback Braylon Braxton found wide receiver Christian Fitzpatrick all alone for a 67-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. Fitzpatrick led the Herd with 97 yards receiving while Braxton was 7 of 11 for 141 yards with two scores.
Braxton also connected with Carl Chester for a 7-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and Cole Pennington later also connected with Bralon Brown on a 16-yard scoring pass. Pennington was 4 of 5 for 52 yards in the win.
Marshall's scoring barrage came after the teams went into a lengthy weather delay scoreless. The delay lasted 1 hour, 34 minutes and started with 5:10 left in the first quarter.
After the Herd forced a punt following the delay, Turner took the Herd's first offensive play 80 yards to the house for his first rushing touchdown in a Marshall uniform.
Defensively, Mike Green finished with a career-high nine tackles, including 1.5 sacks for the Herd in the win. Chris Thomas also had a career-best six tackles and two pass breakups for Marshall. Jordan Reagan also had an interception for the Herd.
Jordan Reagan with the first pick of the year! 😤 pic.twitter.com/avAXP4l3kt— Marshall Football (@HerdFB) September 1, 2024
Marshall now sets its sights on the first road test of the 2024 season when they travel to Lane Stadium for a 4:30 p.m. matchup next Saturday against Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.
For all the latest information about Marshall Football, follow @HerdFB on Twitter and @Herd_FB on Instagram.
To follow all Thundering Herd sports and get live stats, schedules and free live audio, download the Marshall Athletics App for iOS and Android.
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Team Stats
SBU 0, MAR 7
MAR - Turner,A.J. 80 yd run (Verhoff,Rece kick), 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 00:11
SBU 0, MAR 10
MAR - Verhoff,Rece 45 yd field goal 10 plays, 42 yards, TOP 04:11
SBU 0, MAR 17
MAR - Metcalf,Elijah 9 yd pass from Earle,Stone (Verhoff,Rece kick) 4 plays, 43 yards, TOP 00:31
SBU 0, MAR 24
MAR - Metcalf,Elijah 28 yd pass from Earle,Stone (Verhoff,Rece kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:11
SBU 3, MAR 24
SBU - Kirby,Enda 39 yd field goal 12 plays, 39 yards, TOP 04:52
SBU 3, MAR 31
MAR - Fitzpatrick,Christian 67 yd pass from Braxton,Braylon (Verhoff,Rece kick) 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:41
SBU 3, MAR 38
MAR - Chester,Carl 7 yd pass from Braxton,Braylon (Verhoff,Rece kick) 7 plays, 61 yards, TOP 02:58
SBU 3, MAR 45
MAR - Brown,Bralon 16 yd pass from Pennington,Cole (Verhoff,Rece kick) 9 plays, 86 yards, TOP 03:39
