Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
1-2 , 0-0
#3 Ohio State
3-0 , 0-0
Marshall Football Falls To No. 3 Ohio State, 49-14
9/21/2024 5:30:00 PM | Football
Herd offense efficient in first half against one of nation’s best
Box Score | Coach Huff Post-Game Press Conference | Players Post-Game
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Marshall's offense got off to a strong start, but the Thundering Herd couldn't keep up with a stout attack from No. 3 Ohio State in a 49-14 loss to the Buckeyes in front of 103,871 fans at Ohio Stadium.
With the loss, Marshall falls to 1-2 in the 2024 season.
"I thought our guys battled 60 minutes, but they wore us down a little bit in the second half," Marshall head coach Charles Huff said. "I thought we showed that when we do what we need to do from the things that we can control, that we can play with anybody in the country."
The 103,871 fans at Ohio Stadium served as the fifth biggest crowd that Marshall has ever played in and the fifth time that the Herd has played in front of more than 100,000 fans.
Marshall quieted that crowd early after taking a 7-0 lead following Ethan Payne's 2-yard plunge capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up nearly seven minutes of the first quarter. Ohio State tied the game up at 7 after one quarter.
"They hadn't given up a touchdown all year and only one team had gotten into the red zone all year," Huff said. "I thought the biggest play (for us) of the day was we go down there on the goal line and we punched it in. That's a man's yard down on the goal line. Offensively, we were a lot more efficient today."
The game's biggest momentum change came in the second quarter with the Buckeyes leading 14-7. Marshall recovered a muffed punt by Ohio State inside the 10-yard line, but was called for illegal formation on the punt, negating the recovery. Two plays later, Ohio State scored to push the lead to two scores.
Marshall starting quarterback Stone Earle was in rhythm early, using his legs and the short passing game to keep the Buckeyes off-balance as the Herd ran 49 plays in the first half, which culminated with Earle finding Elijah Metcalf for a 13-yard touchdown with six seconds left before halftime to cut the deficit to 28-14.
"I saw the safety looking at me pre-snap and I thought, 'Okay, this could come to me,'" Metcalf said of the play. "He tried to shadow me from going inside, so I tried to take it outside, but I looked back and saw Stone throwing me the ball. I just wanted to respond and make a play for him. It was a great play and I'm glad he had the trust in me to make it for him."
Earle finished the game 16 of 21 for 132 yards and the score while Metcalf caught eight passes for 68 yards and a touchdown.
"Seeing him work this week with his head held high was great," Earle said of Metcalf. "I told him every day this week, 'Dude, you're a dog.' Just being able to continue to feed these guys – and being able to do that, it's awesome."
Defensively, Josh Moten registered an interception for the Herd while Jaden Yates led the team with seven tackles in his return to his hometown.
Marshall now comes back home to Joan C. Edwards Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. contest next Saturday against Western Michigan. The game will serve as Marshall's Hall of Fame Weekend as nine Herd greats will be inducted into the Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame. For tickets to that game, click HERE.
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Team Stats
MAR 7, OSU 0
MAR - Payne,Ethan 1 yd run (Verhoff,Rece kick), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:46
MAR 7, OSU 7
OSU - Egbuka,Emeka 68 yd pass from Howard,Will (Fielding,Jayden kick) 2 plays, 70 yards, TOP 00:42
MAR 7, OSU 14
OSU - Howard,Will 1 yd run (Fielding,Jayden kick), 6 plays, 45 yards, TOP 02:26
MAR 7, OSU 21
OSU - Judkins,Quinshon 86 yd run (Fielding,Jayden kick), 1 plays, 86 yards, TOP 00:12
MAR 7, OSU 28
OSU - Henderson,TreVeyon 14 yd run (Fielding,Jayden kick), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:30
MAR 14, OSU 28
MAR - Metcalf,Elijah 13 yd pass from Earle,Stone (Verhoff,Rece kick) 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 03:27
MAR 14, OSU 35
OSU - Henderson,TreVeyon 40 yd run (Fielding,Jayden kick), 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:12
MAR 14, OSU 42
OSU - Smith,Jeremiah 53 yd pass from Howard,Will (Snyder,Austin kick) 1 plays, 53 yards, TOP 00:09
MAR 14, OSU 49
OSU - Judkins,Quinshon 6 yd run (Snyder,Austin kick), 9 plays, 83 yards, TOP 03:15
