Marshall Football vs Stony Brook Recap

 By Ben Anderson

    

    Marshall football overcame early challenges on Saturday to defeat Stony Brook 45-3 to start its 2024 campaign 1-0.

    Marshall started the game slow, being forced to punt in their first two drives, until a rain delay that lasted over an hour and thirty-four minutes would hit late in the first quarter, but Marshall used that time to regroup and gameplan against the Seawolves. 

    “We went in the locker room we just didn't feel like we were planning a rhythm. I mean we did some good things obviously not knowing what Stony Brook was going to do or what they was going to do, it didn't allow us to kind of anticipate some things pre-snap.” Marshall head coach Charles Huff said during his postgame presser conference Saturday night. “We felt like we left a lot of opportunities out there in those first two or three series, we talked about what they were doing, we kind of eliminated the stuff we thought they were gonna do that they weren’t and kind of went back and said, ok based on what they're doing, what do we have in the plan, that works.”  

    Marshall came out of the rain delay and would strike with running back AJ Turner as he scored the first points of the air raid offense with an 80-yard touchdown run on the first play of scrimmage out of the break.

    “We talked about it all week. E-G-B,” AJ Turner said after coach Huff’s postgame press conference. “Energy generating behaviors. Coach Huff and everyone everybody else emphasize that, and its all about building off each other.” 

    In addition to Turner’s touchdown, the Thundering Herd would also score touchdowns from Christian Fitzpatrick taking advantage of a broken coverage for a 67-yard score, and Elijah Metcalf scoring two touchdowns, including his second which was for a 28-yard score. 

    Marshall starting quarterback Stone Earle would start the game missing five of his first seven passes before ending the game completing eight of his last nine before being replaced by Braylon Braxton. 

    “Once I settled in, I was able to play my game, but it took a minute.” Stone Earle said after coach Huff’s postgame press conference. “Missed some things that I could have done better at, but at the end of the day, it’s about taking those things and growing from them.” 

    Marshall’s offense with their new “air raid” offense that is known for heavy passing out of the shotgun to widen passing lanes, finished the game with 549 yards of total offense in the win, 259 passing and 290 on the ground.

    “That was a big emphasis, take care of the ball and be efficient. Explosion will come, big plays will come.” Huff said. “That means you’re taking what the defense is giving you, means you’re seeing what you need to see, and I thought all three quarterbacks did a good job with that as the game went on.”  

    The Herd led by seven after the first quarter, 17 at the half and 21 entering the fourth.  

    Marshall held the Seawolves to only a 39-yard field goal.

    Marshall’s defense held Stony Brook to 93 rushing yards and 158 passing yards.

    Leading the way defensively for Marshall were Mike Green and Jayden Yates, both having a career-high nine tackles. 

    Marshall will return to the gridiron on Saturday when they travel to Blacksburg, Virginia, to face the Virginia Tech Hokies, who lost their regular season opener on the road against the Vanderbilt Commodores 34-27 in overtime.