Marshall running back A.J. Turner speeds up the field against Louisiana-Monroe during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Marshall tight end Toby Payne runs against Louisiana-Monroe during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Marshall running back A.J. Turner speeds up the field against Louisiana-Monroe during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Marshall tight end Toby Payne runs against Louisiana-Monroe during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON Ƶ With each new week comes new opportunity, Marshall football coach Charles Huff said, and he hopes that the Thundering Herd doesnƵt waste it it this week in Hattiesburg, Mississippi against Southern Miss.
ItƵs the first time that Marshall and the Golden Eagles have met since 2018. The Herd is searching for its first win in Hattiesburg since 2014, having dropped the last three in the series.
While Huff said Marshall isnƵt so worried about what has happened in the past at M.M. Roberts Stadium, he said focus and intentionality at practice has been at an all-time high.
ƵI think the extra focus comes from what we have to gain. ThatƵs how weƵve tried to approach it,Ƶ Huff said. ƵWeƵve got an opportunity to go on the road and weƵve got four guaranteed (games) left, so letƵs not lose an opportunity because we werenƵt focused, whether weƵre home or away.Ƶ
The Herd could clinch bowl eligibility with a win. That would also match MarshallƵs best nine-game start to a season since HuffƵs first year in Huntington, when the Herd started 6-3.
But to do so, Marshall will have to shake off some recent road woes. The Herd has lost nine straight games on the road or at a neutral site.
ƵI think itƵs just really important that we stay focused and we stay hungry for everything that we set out to get at the beginning of the season,Ƶ Herd defensive back JJ Roberts said.
ThatƵs especially true against Southern Miss, which enters the matchup 1-7 following a bye week. Interim coach Reed Stringer took over for Will Hall, who was fired after a 1-6 start.
ƵWeƵre 1-7. WeƵve got four more games left. WeƵre not going to make this miserable on our players or our coaches,Ƶ Stringer said. ƵWe had a little fun last week, but we got better and weƵve got to continue to get better, and until we become a better football team, we donƵt really worry about anybody else.Ƶ
The Golden Eagles lost by 17 to James Madison on the road last time out and their offense is averaging just under 18 points per game, led by quarterback Ethan Crawford. He took over for Florida State transfer Tate Rodemaker as the starter midway through the season.
The Golden Eagles were down by just a possession at intermission against the Dukes but gave up a touchdown on the opening kickoff of the second half, which put Southern Miss in a deficit too big to overcome.
ƵOur kids did a lot of good things. WeƵre just not good enough right now to overcome critical mistakes and things like that,Ƶ Stringer said. ƵWe just canƵt let our quarterback always get pressured like that, because even as an older player, an experienced player, theyƵre going to struggle with that.Ƶ
It will be MarshallƵs second consecutive cross-divisional opponent after defeating Louisiana-Monroe last week.
Herd defensive lineman Mike Green said sometimes those games present more challenges because itƵs an opponent you donƵt see every year, but expressed his confidence in MarshallƵs ability to walk in prepared and ready to adjust.
ƵIf youƵve got the guys that are versatile and guys that can fly around and play in different situations that, if you do what youƵre supposed to be doing,Ƶ Green said, Ƶthen you should be fine.Ƶ
Herd offensive lineman Logan Osburn said last SaturdayƵs 28-23 win over the Warhawks felt different than some of the other victories this year, not because who Marshall beat, but how.
ƵWeƵve always started hot; we didnƵt start hot this week at all and we battled back. We won the fourth quarter,Ƶ Osburn said. ƵI think it really helped our team grow. It helped us identify a little bit of our culture.Ƶ
The game kicks off at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Luke Creasy is a sports reporter for HD Media. He can be reached by phone at 304-526-2800.
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