Game 6: Virginia Military Institute

Marshall's sixth game was at Virginia Military Institute, typically a difficult place to play. A crowd of 9,165 fans, the fourth largest in stadium history, saw the two teams tied, 7-7, late in the first quarter. However, Marshall was able to reel off 28 unanswered points in the first half, starting with a 67-yard punt return by Tim Martin with a minute to go in the first quarter. Martin scored again midway through the second period to give the Herd a 35-7 lead. Thomas added a late touchdown run as the Herd coasted to a 45-20 win that improved the team record to 6-0.

Game 7: Western Carolina University

Western Carolina must have felt as if it was looking down the barrel of a shotgun as Marshall jumped out to a 35-0 lead after only 18 minutes of game time. Kresser was 17-of-23 through the air for 300 yards despite only playing one-and-a-half quarters. The Herd coasted in the second half to win 56-21.

Game 8: Appalachian State University

Game eight of the season is one that most Herd fans had circled on their calendar when the 1996 schedule was announced...Appalachian State. The Mountaineers won the Southern Conference title in 1995 thanks in part to a 10-3 win over Marshall in Huntington. The Mountaineers took the early lead as Damon Scott rushed 28 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. Marshall answered right back as Kresser connected with Moss for an 1-yard touchdown pass to tie the score. Appalachian State hit a field goal with eight seconds to play in the first half to give the Mountaineers a 10-7 lead at the intermission. Openlander booted a 44-yard field goal in the third quarter to tie the score before Kresser and Moss connected again for a 72-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. Kresser later passed to Tim Martin who twisted and turned until he found pay dirt giving Marshall a 24-10 victory.

The game against Appalachian State offered several smaller stories that helped the game live up to its hype. The 14-point win was actually Marshall's closest game of the season. It was also the first time that Marshall had won in Boone, NC, since 1987, and Chris Hanson punted six times in the game for a school-record average of 55.3 yards per kick.

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