Marshall Football Recap
\nBy Connor Brown, FM88 Sports
\nNov. 10, 2025
\nHUNTINGTON, W. Va. (WMUL-FM) \u2014Despite a valiant second-half surge and a season-best offensive performance, Marshall\u2019s comeback bid fell short Saturday night as the Thundering Herd dropped a 35\u201323 decision to No. 24 James Madison at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in the annual “Play for the 75 Game”.<\/p>\n
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\u201320). However, three explosive touchdown plays of 25+ yards proved decisive as JMU stayed unbeaten in conference play.<\/p>\n
The contest carried special meaning as Marshall honored the 75 players, coaches, and fans lost in the 1970 plane crash \u2014 with the team wearing black helmets with a \u201c75\u201d memorial decal on both sides.<\/p>\n
James Madison wasted little time striking first. On the Dukes\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 15-yard touchdown run. The extra point was off target, leaving the score 7-6 midway through the opening quarter.<\/p>\n
JMU\u2019s 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\u2019 lead to 14-6 early in the second quarter.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Marshall steadied late in the half as Lorcan Quinn drilled a 52-yard field goal \u2014 the longest of his career \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
The second half opened much like the first \u2014 with a JMU strike. On the Dukes\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
The Herd refused to fold. Behind Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, Marshall orchestrated its best drive of the night \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 his second of the night \u2014 putting the Dukes ahead 35-23 with 2:16 remaining.<\/p>\n
Marshall\u2019s final drive reached the JMU 40 before a turnover on downs ended the comeback effort.<\/p>\n
STAT LEADERS<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Carlos Del Rio-Wilson: 14-of-26 passing, 154 yards, 1 TD; 73 rushing yards on 11 carries.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Antwan Roberts: 20 carries, 121 yards (6.0 avg) and 1 TD.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Tracy Stephens: 3 receptions, 37 yards, 1 TD.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Caleb Combs: 4 receptions, 52 yards.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Lorcan Quinn: 3-for-3 FG (52, 34, 23), 2-for-2 PAT.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Eli Neal: 9 tackles (5 solo) and a TFL.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Micah Abraham & J.J. Roberts: 2 PBUs each.<\/p>\n
For JMU:<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Barnett III: 14-of-24, 270 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Knight: 87 rushing yards + 79 receiving yards + 2 TDs (166 all-purpose).<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Sanchez: 3 catches, 86 yards, 1 TD.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur team showed heart tonight,\u201d said head coach Tony Gibson. \u201cWe battled one of the best teams in the conference and didn\u2019t back down. The effort was there. The big plays hurt us \u2014 three long touchdowns \u2014 but I love the way our guys fought in the second half. We\u2019re going to keep learning and growing from this.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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