South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
‘Special day’ for Thundering Herd
Marshall wins on anniversary of program’s 1970 plane crash
HUNTINGTON, W.Va.— Redshirt freshman Grant Wells threw a season-high five touchdown passes and No. 16 Marshall commemorated the 50th anniversary of the worst disaster inU.S. sports history during a 42-14 victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday.
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 and surrounding community remembered 75 people killed in aNov. 14, 1970, plane crash.
“Just a great day,” Marshall coach Doc Holliday said. “A special day.”
Marshall wore special black uniforms and theNo. 75 on its helmets to honor those who were lost, which included most of the Thundering Herd football team. The crash occurred as the team’s plane was returning from a game at East Carolina. There were no survivors. Wells grew up 50 miles away in Charleston and learned about the Marshall tragedy as a young child. He said this week that playing in the crash’s silver anniversary gamewas going to be surreal.
After several early overthrows, Wells found his groove and Marshall kept the momentumfor good. Wells finished25of 37 for 336 yards, all season highs. Two of his TD passes each went to Corey Gammage andWillie 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 eachweek.”
Late in the second quarter, Wells found Johnson in stride for a 44-yard gain to set up tight end Hayden Hagler’s first career TD catch. Then, after Middle Tennessee quarterback Asher O’Hara fumbled the ball away on a hit by Marshall’s Darius Hodge, Wells ran for 6 yards and made three straight completions. His 17-yard throw to Gammage put the Thundering Herd ahead 21-7 at halftime.
Wells kept it going after safety Nazeeh Johnson ripped the ball away from Middle
Tennessee wide receiver Marquel Tinsley inside theMarshall 10 early in the third.
A 46-yard pass to Johnson and a 14-yarder to Gaines were followed by Gammage’s second TD grab. Gammage went up high for a 28-yard catch in the end zone for a 28-7 lead.
Marshall shifted to its passing attack after Middle Tennessee held running back BrendenKnox incheck. Knox, whoentered thegameaveraging 112 yards on the ground, 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 sowell, they went to the pass and he did a nice job. (Wells) picked us apart.”