Marshall wide receiver Chuck Montgomery (10) celebrates a score against Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
Marshall wide receiver Chuck Montgomery (10) celebrates a score against Coastal Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in Huntington.
HARRISONBURG, Va. Ƶ Chuck Montgomery is now the second-leading receiver on the Marshall football team after securing three catches for 29 yards in Saturday's win over James Madison, but he didn't want to speak until the Herd accomplished what it did with a double-overtime win at Bridgeforth Stadium.
"I didn't want to step in front of any of the cameras until we won this, you know? We still didn't finish, but, you know, at least we won the East," said Montgomery, who hadn't spoken with the media all season until Saturday night. "(When) we get what we actually work for, then I feel I should have some fun in front of the cameras."
He walked into the postgame media room with a smile -- and for good reason -- after he secured the 35-33 win by catching a two-point conversion pass from Braylon Braxton in double overtime to help Marshall clinch the Sun Belt East Division title and a berth into the conference championship game against Louisiana on Saturday, Dec. 7.
With a laugh as he crossed his legs, he then opened the interview by asking his own question.
"How y'all feeling, man?" Montgomery asked "I mean, how does it feel to witness history go down?"
It was the first SBC East Division title for Marshall in its third year in the league and it took a come-from-behind effort after trailing by 17 points at the half and by two possessions late into the third quarter.
But after scoring 14 points in the span of seven seconds with a touchdown pass from Braxton to Toby Payne, followed by Jadarius Green-McKnight's 28-yard interception return for a touchdown on the Dukes' next play from scrimmage, all the momentum fell Marshall's way.
"The team that we've built now, we see 17-0, we're down, but it's nothing to us," Montgomery said. "We came back out and just played football. There was enough football left on that clock. It's a great feeling."
James Madison used two first-quarter touchdowns and a second-quarter field goal to build that lead in the first half while limiting the Thundering Herd to just 51 yards of offense on 16 plays.
The Herd's demeanor in the locker room at halftime, though, was probably the opposite of what most would have expected it to be.
Marshall coach Charles Huff said there wasn't any finger-point or throwing of objects, just some subtle notes of disappointment as the Herd reflected on some missed opportunities that led to the deficit it was in.
"It was really calm," Huff said. "I've been in locker rooms where there's board-throwing and people punching walls, but it was calm. 'Look at this play. What are you supposed to do? Do your job.' That's what it ultimately is gonna come down to."
For Marshall's defense, that meant holding JMU to just 113 yards of offense in the second half after it gave up 269 before the break. For the offense, that meant scoring on three of its first four drives after halftime, and on special teams, it was setting the offense up with short field and pinning the Dukes deep on punts.
ƵThatƵs what happens when everyone pulls the rope in the same direction,Ƶ Huff said. ƵEven when it gets rocky, even when things donƵt seem to be going your direction, you keep believing, praying and working. ThatƵs what these guys have done.Ƶ
Luke Creasy is a sports reporter for HD Media. He can be reached by phone at 304-526-2800.
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