Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
3-3 , 1-1
Old Dominion
4-2 , 1-1
Marshall Football Makes Statement In 48-24 Win Over ODU
10/11/2025 8:15:00 PM | Football
Herd defense limits SBC’s top attack; offense stays hot in victory
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall defensive back Boogie Trotter ignited a stout Thundering Herd defense and the Herd offense kept rolling in a 48-24 win over Old Dominion in front of 23,515 fans at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
With the win, Marshall moves to 3-3 on the season and 1-1 in the Sun Belt Conference.
"I'm just really, really proud of this football team," Marshall head coach Tony Gibson said. "It's been a hard two weeks for coaches, players and my biggest message today was 'Believe.' Man, did they play good! They played hard and different guys stepped up at different times all over the field."
Old Dominion came in with the league's top scoring offense, but it was Marshall's defense that proved dominant, forcing three turnovers and getting three fourth-down stops on the afternoon while also recovering a pair of muffed punts by the Monarchs.
Trotter accounted for a pair of the turnovers with an interception return for a touchdown and a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
"We prepared all during the bye week and all week this week and coach had a great gameplan for us, so I already knew the play that I picked off, I (just) knew that I would get it," Trotter said. "I'm just always trying to be a playmaker and be around the ball. For me, that's my game."
Meanwhile, Marshall's offense kept rolling behind quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, who finished 17 of 24 for 219 yards through the air and added 95 yards rushing while accounting for four total touchdowns in the win.
The Herd offense continued with a strong balanced attack, rushing for 223 yards while throwing for 222 in the win.
Wide receiver Demarcus Lacey added his third straight game with 100 yards receiving, finishing with eight catches for 121 yards, including a 15-yard scoring reception from Del Rio-Wilson as part of a second-half surge in which the Herd scored 24 straight to take its biggest lead at 48-10 late in the third quarter.
The outcome was never in doubt as Marshall took a 24-10 lead into the locker room on the strength of a defense that forced three turnovers and had two fourth-down stops inside its own 5-yard line in the first half.
"Two goal-line stands – it's rare to get one in a year, but to get two in the same game in the first half," Gibson said. "Obviously, we got momentum from that. Our kids believed in it, kept fighting and that's what it's all about."
In a game of two high-powered offenses, Marshall's defense actually opened the scoring with Trotter picking off a Joseph pass and returning it 22 yards for a score. It was Trotter's fourth interception of the year and Marshall's second straight game with an interception return for a touchdown.
Trotter also later forced a fumble and recovered it to give the Herd a second turnover that turned into a Del Rio-Wilson touchdown for a 24-7 lead.
Special teams also played a major role with Marshall linebacker Zane Porter recovered a pair of muffed punts by the Monarchs to give the Herd possession.Â
"Special teams is a big part of the game, and getting the ball back for the offense at any time is a big-time play," Porter said. "It's pretty surreal to get to do that (twice) in my hometown and for Marshall!"
Kicker Lorcan Quinn also added a pair of field goals from 46 and 20 yards for the Herd in the win.Â
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 ---HerdZone.com---
Team Stats
ODU 0, MAR 7
MAR - Trotter,Boogie 22 yd interception (Quinn,Lorcan kick)
ODU 7, MAR 7
ODU - Brown,Tre 71 yd pass from Joseph,Colton (Callaghan,Riley kick) 3 plays, 66 yards, TOP 01:11
ODU 7, MAR 14
MAR - Allen,Michael 49 yd pass from Del Rio-Wilson,Carlos (Quinn,Lorcan kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:55
ODU 7, MAR 17
MAR - Quinn,Lorcan 20 yd field goal 11 plays, 54 yards, TOP 05:08
ODU 7, MAR 24
MAR - Del Rio-Wilson,Carlos 6 yd run (Quinn,Lorcan kick), 3 plays, 39 yards, TOP 01:01
ODU 10, MAR 24
ODU - Callaghan,Riley 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 51 yards, TOP 00:59
ODU 10, MAR 31
MAR - Roberts,Antwan 26 yd run (Quinn,Lorcan kick), 2 plays, 28 yards, TOP 00:36
ODU 10, MAR 38
MAR - Lacey,Demarcus 15 yd pass from Del Rio-Wilson,Carlos (Quinn,Lorcan kick) 5 plays, 65 yards, TOP 02:06
ODU 10, MAR 41
MAR - Quinn,Lorcan 46 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 02:32
ODU 10, MAR 48
MAR - Del Rio-Wilson,Carlos 2 yd run (Quinn,Lorcan kick), 5 plays, 22 yards, TOP 02:52
ODU 17, MAR 48
ODU - Joseph,Colton 4 yd run (Callaghan,Riley kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:11
ODU 24, MAR 48
ODU - James,Maurki 1 yd run (Callaghan,Riley kick), 14 plays, 80 yards, TOP 03:57
