Herd rolls 45-3 as QBs throw 5 TD passes

Published 11:58 pm Saturday, August 31, 2024

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Transfer quarterbacks Stone Earle and Braylon Braxton each threw for a pair of touchdowns and Marshall defeated Stony Brook 45-3 in both schools’ season opener Saturday night.

Earle, a transfer from North Texas started and played into the third quarter. Braxton, coming over from Tulsa, took over early in the second half and then Cole Pennington finished behind center and also had a touchdown pass. The trio combined to go 21 of 32 for 290 yards.

A.J. Turner rushed for 119 yards on eight carries, including an 80-yard score. Christian Fitzpatrick had four catches for 97 yards and a score. Elijah Metcalf added two touchdown catches and Carl Chester and Bralon Brown one each.

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The Thundering Herd had 549 yards total offense and scored 21 fourth-quarter points in a game that endured a weather delay.

The Seawolves of the FCS were 0-10 last season and have a new head coach in Billy Cosh.

Stony Brook 0 0 3 0 = 3
Marshall 7 10 7 21 = 45

First Quarter

MRSH–Turner 80 run (Verhoff kick), 2:33.

Second Quarter

MRSH–FG Verhoff 45, 4:17.

MRSH–Metcalf 9 pass from Earle (Verhoff kick), 1:38.

Third Quarter

MRSH–Metcalf 28 pass from Earle (Verhoff kick), 11:49.

STON–FG Kirby 39, 4:15.

Fourth Quarter

MRSH–Fitzpatrick 67 pass from Braxton (Verhoff kick), 14:07.

MRSH–Chester 7 pass from Braxton (Verhoff kick), 10:14.

MRSH–Brown 16 pass from Pennington (Verhoff kick), 3:45.

A–25,032.

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STON MRSH
First downs 15 27
Total Net Yards 252 549
Rushes-yards 47-94 36-259
Passing 158 290
Punt Returns 1-6 4-41
Kickoff Returns 2-45 1-51
Interceptions Ret. 0-0 1-0
Comp-Att-Int 18-33-1 21-32-0
Sacked-Yards Lost 4-22 1-8
Punts 9-43.556 4-42.0
Fumbles-Lost 1-0 0-0
Penalties-Yards 5-35 1-10
Time of Possession 35:38 24:22

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Stony Brook, Dempster 13-37, Boria 8-22, Martin 4-11, Carson 5-9, Cook 3-8, Knoop 3-6, Marshall 11-1. Marshall, Turner 8-119, Earle 8-55, Houston 9-38, E.Payne 5-22, Braxton 4-18, Pennington 1-4, Metcalf 1-3.

PASSING–Stony Brook, Marshall 10-20-1-96, Knoop 8-13-0-62. Marshall, Braxton 7-11-0-141, Earle 10-16-0-97, Pennington 4-5-0-52.

RECEIVING–Stony Brook, Knox 5-12, Lamarre 3-25, Cook 3-15, Freeman 2-58, Bunicci 2-25, Redman 1-13, Dempster 1-10, J.Williams 1-0. Marshall, Fitzpatrick 4-97, C.Montgomery 4-44, Robinson 4-28, Metcalf 3-50, Chester 2-28, Brown 2-22, Turner 1-19, E.Payne 1-2.

MISSED FIELD GOALS–Marshall, Verhoff 44.