Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Marshall stays unbeaten on anniversary of crash Game of the day
Plane disaster in 1970 killed 75 players, staff Marshall 42, Middle Tennessee 14
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Quarterback Grant Wells grew up knowing the story of Marshall football. The 1970 plane crash. The university’s decision to continue playing. Eventually, the winning years.
And the importance of representing the school and honoring the fallen on the crash’s anniversary.
With the redshirt freshman passing for a season-high five touchdowns, No. 16 Marshall commemorated the 50th anniversary of the worst disaster in U.S. sports history Saturday with a 42-14 victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday.
“We knew that this game was going to mean so much to this fan base and this community,” Wells said “That’s huge, no matter wherever we’re playing or whoever we’re playing. The fact that we could do this on the 50th anniversary is amazing.”
Marshall (7-0, 4-0 Conference USA) got another standout performance from its defense and turned three turnovers into scores on a day when the university remembered the 75 people killed on Nov. 14, 1970.
“Just a great day,” Marshall coach Doc Holliday said. “A special day.”
Marshall wore special black uniforms and the No. 75 on its helmets to honor those who were lost, which included most of the team. The crash occurred as the team’s plane was returning from a game at East Carolina. There were no survivors.
Wells played high school football 50 miles away in Charleston and learned about the tragedy starting as a young child.
“Walking out, there were a lot of emotions,” Wells said. “Then after that, I had to snap back into playing Middle Tennessee.” And play, he did.
After several early overthrows, Wells found his groove and Marshall kept the momentum for good. Wells finished 25for-37 passing for 336 yards, all season highs. Two of his TD passes each went to Corey Gammage and Willie Johnson.
“I see it every week now,” Holliday said. “I see a young kid that’s growing up. His teammates have so much respect for him. Just proud of the way he’s maturing and growing up. He’s getting better each week.”
Marshall shifted to its passing attack after Middle Tennessee held running back Brenden Knox in check. Knox, who entered the game averaging 112 yards rushing, was held to 70 yards on 16 carries.
“We shut the run down really well,” Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill coach. “The run being stopped so well, they went to the pass and he did a nice job. (Wells) picked us apart.”
Middle Tennessee (2-6, 2-4) couldn’t do much against the nation’s top rush defense. Asher O’Hara, whose 476 rushing yards entering the game were the third most for a quarterback nationally, was limited to 39 yards on 11 carries. He ran for a score, threw for another and went 29for-44 passing for 241 yards.