Flipping the script

It appeared early that CCU would be the team that would be punished for its turnover woes, as the Chants, who entered the game minus-six in turnovers this season, turned the ball over twice in the first quarter.

The Herd defense has preyed on opposing offenses all season, with now 16 forced turnovers in eight games.

Marshall took advantage of Coastal’s miscues to open up a 10-point lead on two occasions.

“We can’t beat ourselves, and we were in the first half,” Beck said. “If you really think about it defensively we gave up 10 points. We gave them the interception then the turnover that resulted in a field goal. So we were playing well enough defensively although we were down in the game at halftime. I told our guys we just have to get after them.

“We knew at times they put the ball in jeopardy and our guys made some plays.”

CCU received the opening kickoff, but six plays into the game on third-and-5 at the CCU 42, Collier tried to hit receiver Karmello English down the left sideline but the pass was intercepted by Boogie Trotter and returned 51 yards for a touchdown less than 2 minutes into the game.

‘The pick in the first quarter, that was on me,” Collier said. “I’ve got to be smarter with the football and know the down and distance and take what the defense gives me. It was just like a forced throw.”

CCU drove 56 yards in eight plays on its next possession, including receptions of 22 yards by wideouts Robby Washington and 24 yards by Cameron Wright, and opted to kick an Afrookhteh 36-yard field goal on fourth-and-2 at the Marshall 19.

The Chants avoided a 51-yard touchdown reception down the middle of the field by De’Andre Tamarez when the score was negated by a holding penalty on tackle Tariq Montgomery. The Chants forced a punt on the possession.

CCU avoided a turnover when Jameson Tucker recovered a muffed punt by Graves at the CCU 25, but on the first play of the possession freshman running back Jevon Edwards fumbled on a hit by linebacker Kerion Martin and Marshall safety Daytione Smith recovered at the CCU 37.

The Chants defense responded well to the turnover and held the Herd without a first down to force a 56-yard field goal by Lorcan Quinn. Marshall coach Tony Gibson said this week that he trusted the freshman with up to about a 65-yard field goal and he delivered with a kick that split the uprights and had yards to spare to give the Herd a 10-3 lead.

The Chants had a third-and-10 conversion negated by an ineligible receiver downfield penalty and punted late in the first quarter, and Marshall drove 49 yards in 11 plays for a 23-yard Quinn field goal.

CCU pulled within three points with an eight-play, 54-yard drive that was preceded by a 45-yard Gillie kickoff return to the CCU 46 and culminated with a 2-yard Collier touchdown run.

Marshall answered with an eight-play, 65-yard drive that was capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by Jo’Shon Barbie to regain a 10-point lead. 

A 59-yard touchdown run around the left end by Knicely again pulled CCU within a field goal before halftime.

The teams traded touchdowns in the opening 3:30 of the second half.

Marshall received the second half touchdown and wasted no time in scoring on six plays, getting a 54-yard gain by Antwan Roberts on an inside trap run to set up a 7-yard touchdown reception by Tamarez.

CCU quickly answered with a 69-yard touchdown reception by Gillie. He caught an abbreviated slant pass from the right side 3 yards from the line of scrimmage, spun away from his one-on-one defender to the outside and outraced a few defenders in pursuit to the end zone.

The Chants caught a break when a Del Rio-Wilson throw that was deemed a lateral was high and went through the hands of receiver Floyd Lacey and was recovered by Xamarion Gordon at the Marshall 18.

Collier then hit a wide open Graves for a 17-yard touchdown pass. Two Marshall defenders jumped a short route on the right side and Graves ran alone to the end zone for the easy score that gave CCU its first lead of the game, 31-17 just 4:15 into the second half.

Lunan intercepted a pass and CCU took over at the Marshall 28 after it recovered Lunan’s fumble on a short return. Lunan had underneath coverage on a crossing route and Del Rio-Wilson threw it right to him.

CCU settled for a 42-yard Afrookhteh field goal after Collier dropped an end-around reverse throw to the right sideline by Graves. Collier would have walked into the end zone.

Two Marshall plays later, senior cornerback Lionel Whitaker lunged to deflect a pass down the right seam that bounced into the arms of Woods, allowing CCU to start a possession on the Marshall 39. The Chants again settled for a Afrookhteh field goal, this one from 24 yards for a 37-27 lead.

Marshall ran six plays before Del Rio-Wilson fumbled again, as he was stripped of the ball by Lunan and it was recovered by redshirt senior safety Dre Pinckney.

A muffed punt in the fourth quarter set up CCU’s final score, a 1-yard Collier TD run that came one play after a 40-yard reception by Eli Aragon.

The Chants are at home again next Saturday, hosting Georgia State at 4 p.m. on Homecoming weekend.