The Herd’s the word
Marshall’s big plays, blitzes topple Colorado State
The odds have always favored a streak — winning or losing — being extended instead of being snapped. Case in point is the 2017 Gildan New Mexico Bowl. The Marshall Thundering Herd, who built a commanding lead, then withstood a furious Colorado State comeback, defeated the Rams 31-28 Saturday in the 12th edition of the postseason game at Dreamstyle Stadium.
Two streaks are intact. Marshall (8-5) has now won six bowl games in a row. For Colorado State (7-6), it’s a fourth straight bowl defeat.
The Thundering Herd built that 17-point lead, and ultimately won the game, with a big-play offense and a relentlessly blitzing defense. Colorado State quarterback Nick Stevens, sacked five times and hit repeatedly, was 25-for-52 passing.
“That quarterback is so talented, and their skill guys are so talented, that you can’t give him time
to sit back there and throw the ball,” Marshall coach Doc Holliday said. “We hoped we could get some pressure, and we did. We gave up some big plays because of it, but at the end of the day we won the game.”
It was Marshall’s big plays on offense — passes of 76 and 47 yards, runs of 90 and 68 — that cost CSU dearly.
“It was pretty much a microcosm of our season,” CSU coach Mike Bobo said. “We played pretty good at times, and then we give up the big plays.”
Too many Colorado State big-play opportunities, Bobo said, went for naught. Stevens couldn’t hook up consistently with star wide receiver Michael Gallup, who was thrown to 18 times but had only six catches for 68 yards.
“When you play like that (the way Marshall played defensively), it’s feast or famine,” Bobo said. “If we’d hit some of those long passes it would be a different story, but we didn’t.”
The Rams, who had won two previous New Mexico Bowls in breathtaking fashion, gave themselves every opportunity to make it three.
Trailing by the eventual final score, CSU forced a Marshall punt from midfield and took possession at its 16-yard line,
Stevens got the Rams a first down at their 39, thanks to a spectacular one-handed catch of 13 yards by Gallup. But on a fourth-and-5 from the 44, a Stevens pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage. Stevens caught the ball himself but was stopped short of the marker.
One Marshall first down, and the game was over. Marshall led 31-14 and was dominating when CSU came to life in the fourth quarter.
First, Stevens whisked the Rams 79 yards in five plays, all through the air. Stevens hit wide receiver Detrich Clark for the score from 24 yards out.
When CSU failed to capitalize on an Anthony Hawkins interception and turned the ball over on downs at its 43, it appeared Marshall had righted the ship. But the Colorado State defense forced a three-and-out, and Stevens guided an 85-yard touchdown drive, finished by a quarterback sneak, to make it 31-28 with 6:37 left.
Leading 21-14 at halftime, Marshall went ahead by two scores early in the third quarter on a 90-yard run up the middle by redshirt freshman running back Tyler King. It was the longest run in New Mexico Bowl history.
The Thundering Herd extended its lead to 17 when Kaaer Vedvik, Marshall’s Norwegian kicker, connected from 21 yards out at the end of a 72-yard drive.
After a scoreless first quarter, just the second in New Mexico Bowl history, things got more interesting in the second.
Well, a lot more interesting.
A 76-yard pass from quarterback Chase Litton to wide receiver Tyre Brady got Marshall on the board first. Brady, who caught six passes for 165 yards, was voted the game’s most valuable offensive player.
“I went out there tonight and played for the seniors,” Brady said. “When you play for yourself, you force things. … When you play for your teammates, things fall into place.”
Marshall defensive tackle Channing Hames (eight tackles, 1½ sacks, 2½ tackles for losses) was the defensive MVP.
The Rams responded with a 15-play, 75-yard drive, finished by a 5-yard pass from Stevens to Clark. But Litton again found Brady, this time for 47 yards, setting up Litton’s 15-yard touchdown throw to tight end Ryan Yurachek.
Again, CSU answered. After hitting Olabisi Johnson for a 48-yard gain, Stevens scored on a 9-yard quarterback draw to even it at 14 with 4:41 left in the second quarter.
And, again, the Herd went back in front. Junior running back Keion Davis bolted 68 yards for a touchdown, and Marshall went to locker room leading 21-14.
Attendance was announced at 26,087, though it appeared fewer than 10,000 people actually were in the stands.