By GRANT TRAYLOR

Marshall Athletics

BLACKSBURG, Va. – Marshall Football dropped its first road contest of the 2024 season, falling 31-14 to Virginia Tech in front of 65,632 fans at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Saturday.

With the loss, Marshall falls to 1-1 on the 2024 season.

“We had some missed opportunities at the beginning of the game that could have changed the outcome,” Marshall Football coach Charles Huff said. “We’ve got to get better. We’ve got to make catches, get guys on the ground, not turn the ball over and special teams were back and forth. I’m proud of the way our guys fought and there’s some positives to build off of, and hats off to Virginia Tech for making plays when they needed to.”

Marshall finished with four players in double-figures in tackles, led by Landyn Watson who finished with 12, including a tackle for loss. J.J. Roberts, Jaden Yates and Deeve Harris also had 10 each. Harris also had a pass breakup.

Offensively, A.J. Turner went over 100 yards on the ground for the second straight game, finishing with 103, including a 69-yard run that helped set up an 18-yard touchdown pass from Stone Earle to Christian Fitzpatrick, which brought the Herd back within 17-14 early in the third quarter.

Fitzpatrick also had one of the day’s biggest highlights later in the second half when he went up for a one-handed catch for a 25-yard gain that drew a few oohs and ahhs from the crowd.

Earle finished the game 13 of 36 for 129 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Fitzpatrick had four catches for 73 yards and a score.

Marshall trailed 10-7 at halftime and the Herd’s lone first-half touchdown – a 2-yard run by Ethan Payne – was set up by a blocked punt by Ahmere Foster. It was the Herd’s first blocked punt since a Nov. 22, 2022 matchup against App State.

Marshall takes next week off before preparing for a matchup with Ohio State on Sept. 21. Game-time for the Sept. 21 kickoff at Ohio Stadium will be announced on Monday.