Jeff Highfill had another achievement in this game as the Thundering Herd defeated the UTSA Roadrunners 17-14 which gave Highfill his first Conference USA win. The game was all Marshall's from the get go as they scored 14 points in the first half and started to cruze. Then UTSA made a huge comeback and tied it at 14 with 5:30 to go in the fourth. As time expired Justin Haig kicked the game winning field goal. Rakeem Cato played a conservative game as he went 12-17 for 143 yards and a touchdown. Remmi Watson had 18 carries for 63 yards as the running game was really nonexistent.
For UTSA their offense looked a little rough at times as if it were the beginning of the year. Eric Soza had a pretty good game as he went 11-14 for 76 yards and one touchdown. He also had 77 yards on the ground has he got free on a couple of read option plays. The UTSA defense looked great as they held one of the top 25 offenses in the country to only 247 yards of total offense.
Up next for the Thundering Herd(3-2) they have a defeated (0-6) Florida Atlantic team that really has not produced very well as their closest defeat was by 10 to ECU. This is a good thing the Herd play FAU because they lost their starting quarterback for this game and one more with an ankle sprain that is holding him for 2 weeks.
Matchup Preview *|* October 28, 2013
@
Marshall Thundering Herd (3-2, Away)
Florida Atlantic Owls (0-6, Home)
Offensive Stats Comparison
406.6
Total Yards
264.8
30.2
Points Per Game
9.0
160.8
Rushing Yards
151.3
245.8
Passing Yards
113.5
Defensive Stats Comparison
307.2
Total Yards Allowed
362.2
144.8
Rushing Yards Allowed
169.7
162.4
Passing Yards Allowed
192.4
Injury Report
Cameron Dees Probable
Keith Reason 1 Week
Rakeem Cato 2 Weeks
Deandre Richardson 6 Weeks
Game Notes
Marshall is without their top quarterback and will have to go with their backup. Florida Atlantic also has their top wide receiver out.
The Marshall Thundering Herd stormed into Blacksburg, VA and tried to take off the ranked Virginia Tech Hokies. Highfill kept the game close for about 3 quarters until it looked like the Marshall team did not have enough gas in the tank to get the upset. Highfill says "there was a stretch in the fourth quarter where our team was making dumb mistakes and giving it back to the Hokies offense." He was correct as the Thundering Herd had 3 straight turnovers in the fourth quarter as they were up by one entering the fourth. It could be from them trying to run the clock out and playing conservative. Highfill also says that "we could not stop the run at all today. It was like they were oiled up and they were slick or something." The Hokies rushed for a total 353 yards on the ground.
Marshall Thundering Herd at Virginia Tech Hokies
Oct 28, 2013
1ST
2ND
3RD
4TH
SCORE
Marshall Thundering Herd (2-1)
9
14
13
0
36
#18 Virginia Tech Hokies (3-0)
21
7
7
18
53
Team Stats Comparison
MRSH
VT
Total Offense
472
479
Rushing Yards
124
353
Passing Yards
348
126
First Downs
19
18
Punt Return Yards
4
9
Kick Return Yards
203
191
Total Yards
679
679
Turnovers
4
0
3rd Down Converstion
9-15
3-9
4th Down Conversion
1-3
0-1
2-Point Conversion
1-3
1-1
Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals
4-3-1
6-4-1
Penalties
1-5
0-0
Posession Time
17:29
14:31
Marshall Thundering Herd
PASSING
C/A
YDS
TD
INT
Rakeem Cato
21-41
348
1
3
Gunnar Holcombe
0-1
0
0
0
RUSHING
ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
Remmi Watson
15
58
3.8
2
Rakeem Cato
11
44
4.0
1
Kevin Grooms
3
6
2.0
1
Essray Taliaferro
2
16
8.0
0
RECEIVING
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
Remmi Watson
5
13
2.6
0
Eric Frohnapfel
4
32
8.0
0
Shawney Kersey
3
108
36.0
0
Jazz King
2
39
19.5
0
Demetrius Evans
2
64
32.0
1
Virginia Tech Hokies
PASSING
C/A
YDS
TD
INT
Logan Thomas
13-18
126
1
0
RUSHING
ATT
YDS
AVG
TD
JC Coleman
22
163
7.4
3
Logan Thomas
12
64
5.3
1
Tony Gregory
3
126
42.0
2
RECEIVING
REC
YDS
AVG
TD
K. Asante
4
54
13.5
0
D. Knowles
2
29
14.5
1
R. Malleck
2
19
9.5
0
JC Coleman
1
5
5.0
0
E. Smiling
1
8
8.0
0
The Thundering Herd 2-2 now move into C-USA play as they face UTSA to hopefully make them above .500
Jeff Highfill enters this game against the Ohio Bobcats. He thought that last weeks game against Gardner-Webb was not good enough. This game was different for him as the squad came out pumped up as they beat up on the Bobcats who were missing their starting quarterback. Rakeem Cato and Remmi Watson the new starting running back carried the offense as the defense did not give up two hundred yards of offense. Highfill said that this was the most complete his team played all year. He believes they are buying into his system.
It was a big win for the head football coach at Marshall. His first victory came against Gardner Webb, that makes his record 1-1 for his career. On the victory Highfill thinks his team could have played better and smarter as a whole. He says that there is going to be some change on the offense and special teams as some players shined more than others. He also thought that he got the monkey off his back for his first victory. Next week the Thundering Herd will face the Bobcats of Ohio to see if they can have a winning season.
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs at Marshall Thundering Herd
The Miami Red Hawks came into Hunington West Virginia and took care of business as they beat the Thundering Herd 34-27. The Red Hawks were led by their tough quarterback as he went 34-50 for 408 yards and a touchdown, and also throwing two picks. The Marshall defense never really seemed like they could stop him. On the offensive side of the ball Marshall looked very balanced with Rakeem Cato going 19-27 for 208 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions as well. The most surprising thing that stood out to the fans was the appearance of Kevin Grooms as he rushed 15 times for 66 yards and a touchdown, until he got hurt and then Remmi Watson took over for 9 carries for 40 yards.
Up next the Thundering Herd have the Air Force Falcons who are a tough rushing triple option bunch. The Thundering Herd defense will have to be the key here or it might be 0-2 entering a dreadful game against Virginia Tech who beat #1 Alabama.
Prior to the opening season Coach Highfill of the Marshall Thundering Herd is now releasing the Depth Chart. He says there is some controversy in some areas like kick returning and punt returning, he also thinks there is a battle at running back entering the season.
Marshall Thundering Herd have been on the decline ever since Chad Pennington and Randy Moss left the University. As Jeff Highfill tries to turn around the Herd as the new head football coach. His records were great as a high school coach and has a great staff behind him. This season the Thundering Herd will have an alright schedule as they go up against some cupcake opponents and they will face some harder ones. Hopefully Highfill will turn this ball team around.
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