‘SPECIAL DAY’ FOR MARSHALL

Quarterback Grant Wells grew up knowing the story of Marshall football. The 1970 plane crash. The university’s decision to continue playing. The winning years that eventually would come.

And the importance of representing the school and honoring the fallen on the crash’s big anniversary.

The redshirt freshman threw a season-high five touchdown passes and No. 16 Marshall commemorated the 50th anniversary of the worst disaster in U.S. sports history with a 42-14 victory over visiting 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

Marshall 42, Middle Tennessee 14

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 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 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 25 of 37 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.”

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.

Tulsa 28, No. 19 SMU 24:

Zach Smith threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns to help Tulsa (4-1, 4-0 American Athletic) recover from a 21-point second-quarter deficit and upset visiting SMU (7-2, 5-2). It was the third time this season the Golden Hurricane won after trailing by double digits in the first half, and the second time they did it against a ranked team (UCF).

No. 22 Liberty 58, Western Carolina 14: Malik Willis threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more scores, leading host Liberty (8-0) over Western Carolina (0-1).

No. 25 Louisiana 38, South Alabama 10: Levi Lewis passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns, host Louisiana (7-1, 5-1) gained 254 yards on the ground and the Ragin’ Cajuns wrapped up a third straight Sun Belt Conference West Division title by beating South Alabama (3-5, 2-3).