Marshall has won three straight since a 45-0 loss at Penn State, but none has come easily. The Thundering Herd beat Middle Tennessee by two points, Missouri State by six and Gardner-Webb by one to improve to 3-1. Those wins showed Marshall can finish close games. They also showed how often it has needed a late escape.
Marshall stopped a two-point conversion attempt to preserve the win over Middle Tennessee, denied Missouri State on fourth down inside the 10-yard line and got one final chance after Gardner-Webb missed a short field goal. Quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson then moved the Herd into position for Jorge Diaz Nicolas’ winning field goal with three seconds left.
The offense is beginning to give opponents more to worry about. Marshall ran for 267 yards at Missouri State and gained 569 total yards against Gardner-Webb. Del Rio-Wilson threw for a career-high 386 yards Saturday, while Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw caught seven passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Gardner-Webb also scored 35 points and gained 458 yards in Huntington. Marshall is allowing nearly 451 yards per game. The late stops have been decisive, but the Herd faithful could do without needing one every Saturday.
Now comes the Battle for the Gavel at James Madison and Marshall’s Sun Belt opener. JMU is 4-0, won the conference last season and beat the Herd 35-23 in Huntington a year ago. The Dukes recorded nine sacks in a 46-20 win at Old Dominion last week. Marshall’s offensive line will have its hands full, and the defense cannot keep surrendering long drives and expect the offense to erase them.
Marshall has good reason to remember Harrisonburg. Two years ago, the Herd rallied from 17 points down and won there in double overtime to clinch the Sun Belt East. JMU returned the favor in Huntington last season before going on to win the division and conference title.
Marshall has spent September finding a way out of trouble. Against JMU, the Herd has a chance to walk into the champion’s stadium and cause some.