Marshall Football Recap
By Connor Brown, FM88 Sports
Nov. 10, 2025
HUNTINGTON, W. Va. (WMUL-FM) —Despite a valiant second-half surge and a season-best offensive performance, Marshall’s comeback bid fell short Saturday night as the Thundering Herd dropped a 35–23 decision to No. 24 James Madison at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in the annual “Play for the 75 Game”.
The Thundering Herd (4-5, 2-3 Sun Belt) out-gained the Dukes (8-1, 6-0) 414-409 in total yardage and held a slight edge in first downs (22–20). However, three explosive touchdown plays of 25+ yards proved decisive as JMU stayed unbeaten in conference play.
The contest carried special meaning as Marshall honored the 75 players, coaches, and fans lost in the 1970 plane crash — with the team wearing black helmets with a “75” memorial decal on both sides.
James Madison wasted little time striking first. On the Dukes’ second possession, quarterback Alonza Barnett III capped a seven-play, 68-yard drive by connecting with receiver Braeden Wisloski on a 26-yard touchdown strike, giving JMU an early 7-0 lead.
Marshall responded immediately. Sparked by a 43-yard burst from running back Antwan Roberts, the Herd pieced together a nine-play, 75-yard march capped by Roberts’ 15-yard touchdown run. The extra point was off target, leaving the score 7-6 midway through the opening quarter.
JMU’s offense regained rhythm behind its ground game. Sophomore running back Wayne Knight finished a nine-play drive with a six-yard touchdown run to extend the Dukes’ lead to 14-6 early in the second quarter.
Later, a one-yard scoring plunge from Jordan Fuller capped a short field after a Herd turnover on downs, pushing the margin to 21-6.
Marshall steadied late in the half as Lorcan Quinn drilled a 52-yard field goal — the longest of his career — cutting the deficit to 21-9. A defensive stop and another Quinn make from 34 yards out sent the Herd to the locker room trailing 21-12 but with momentum.
The second half opened much like the first — with a JMU strike. On the Dukes’ first play of the third quarter, Barnett connected with Jaylan Sanchez on an 80-yard touchdown bomb down the right sideline, stretching the lead to 28-12.
The Herd refused to fold. Behind Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Marshall orchestrated its best drive of the night — a 12-play, 78-yard march fueled by the legs of Roberts and Del Rio-Wilson, along with a pair of third-down conversions through the air. On 4th-and-short near the goal line, Del Rio-Wilson rolled out and found tight end Tracy Stephens in the back of the end zone for a four-yard touchdown. A successful two-point pass to Caleb Combs trimmed the margin to 28-20 with 13:21 left.
After forcing a punt, the Herd added a 23-yard field goal from Quinn, bringing it within five at 28-23 midway through the fourth. However, JMU answered with a game-clinching drive. Facing 3rd-and-9 near midfield, Barnett found Knight on a short crossing route, and the junior back broke two tackles before racing 49 yards for the touchdown — his second of the night — putting the Dukes ahead 35-23 with 2:16 remaining.
Marshall’s final drive reached the JMU 40 before a turnover on downs ended the comeback effort.
STAT LEADERS
· Carlos Del Rio-Wilson: 14-of-26 passing, 154 yards, 1 TD; 73 rushing yards on 11 carries.
· Antwan Roberts: 20 carries, 121 yards (6.0 avg) and 1 TD.
· Tracy Stephens: 3 receptions, 37 yards, 1 TD.
· Caleb Combs: 4 receptions, 52 yards.
· Lorcan Quinn: 3-for-3 FG (52, 34, 23), 2-for-2 PAT.
· Eli Neal: 9 tackles (5 solo) and a TFL.
· Micah Abraham & J.J. Roberts: 2 PBUs each.
For JMU:
· Barnett III: 14-of-24, 270 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT.
· Knight: 87 rushing yards + 79 receiving yards + 2 TDs (166 all-purpose).
· Sanchez: 3 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD.
“Our team showed heart tonight,” said head coach Tony Gibson. “We battled one of the best teams in the conference and didn’t back down. The effort was there. The big plays hurt us — three long touchdowns — but I love the way our guys fought in the second half. We’re going to keep learning and growing from this.”
Marshall travels to Boone, N.C., next Saturday to face Appalachian State in another pivotal Sun Belt East Division clash. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.