HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Keion Davis returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and Chris Jackson added a 72-yard interception return for a score, but Marshall still needed to bat down a game-ending Hail Mary pass to defeat Miami (Ohio) 31-26 on Saturday night.
Davis sprinted straight up the middle, untouched, for 99 yards and a score the first time Marshall touched the ball. He later dashed up the right sideline for a 97-yard TD. The Thundering Herd special teams created a huge lane each time.
Miami’s Gus Ragland completed 23 of 44 passes for 298 yards and two TDs, but a 42-yard heave into the end zone as time expired was tipped away. Ryan Smith, 7 catches 98 yards, handled both touchdown passes, the last pulling the RedHawks to 31-26 when he bounced off two defenders at the 5 before scoring.
Chase Litton, 20-30-208 yards, opened the final quarter with a 49-yarder to Willie Johnson on third-and-10, leading to a 27-yard Kaare Vedvik field goal and a 31-20 lead.

Marshall stats
Marshall 31, Miami (Ohio) 26
Miami (Ohio)    3    10    7    6    =    26
Marshall    7    14    7    3    =    31
First Quarter
MSH—Davis 99 kickoff return (Vedvik kick), :00
MOH—FG Sloman 27, 8:34
Second Quarter
MOH—Ragland 1 run (Sloman kick), 13:57
MSH—Brady 22 pass from Litton (Vedvik kick), 9:36
MOH—FG Sloman 42, 3:15
MSH—Davis 97 kickoff return (Vedvik kick), 3:03
Third Quarter
MSH—Jackson 72 interception return (Vedvik kick), 5:30
MOH—R.Smith 11 pass from Ragland (Sloman kick), 2:05
Fourth Quarter
MSH—FG Vedvik 27, 11:31
MOH—R.Smith 19 pass from Ragland (run failed), 8:01
A—22,463.
———
MOH    MSH
First downs    25    15
Rushes-yards    42-131    25-59
Passing     298    208
Comp-Att-Int    23-44-1    20-30-1
Return Yards    20    214
Punts-Avg.    4-39.25    4-41.75
Fumbles-Lost    2-1    1-1
Penalties-Yards    5-51    6-43
Time of Possession    35:44    24:16
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Miami (Ohio), A.Smith 13-59, K.Young 9-37, Ragland 15-29, Thomas 4-4, Ross 1-2. Marshall, Rodriguez 18-54, A.Anderson 3-11, Davis 2-5, Vedvik 1-(minus 3), Litton 1-(minus 8).
PASSING—Miami (Ohio), Ragland 23-44-1-298. Marshall, Litton 20-30-1-208.
RECEIVING—Miami (Ohio), Gardner 8-111, R.Smith 7-98, J.Murphy 5-69, K.Young 1-12, Martin 1-6, Thomas 1-2. Marshall, W.Johnson 7-88, Williams 5-30, Brady 3-54, Rodriguez 3-17, Foster 1-11, Yurachek 1-8.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.