G5 Football Daily

Marshall Ride Big Rushing Day to Win Over Virginia Tech, Stay Undefeated

Charles Huff's squad improve to 3-0 with first P5 win of the year

Joe Londergan

© Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
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Entering the weekend, the Thundering Herd were one of only a handful of G5 teams left with an unblemished record. That will remain true until next week as they bear Virginia Tech in Huntington. 

It's Charles Huff's first win over a team from a Power Five conference this season and his second at Marshall. The Herd knocked off a top-ten Notre Dame team in South Bend last season.

In this contest, Marshall took a 14-10 lead with nine minutes remaining in the second quarter and never looked back. That happened with a 56-yard touchdown run by Rasheen Ali.

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Ali, who also competes for Marshall's track team, finished this game with 174 rushing yards, a season high for him. He also had two touchdowns. In total, the Herd finished with 214 rushing yards on 44 attempts. It was the team's highest rushing output of the season. 

"He made some plays there that nullified the difference between their good players and our good players...He's a good back...We missed him last year," Huff said of Ali postgame.

Defensively, Marshall continued their steady stream of improvement. The Herd forced just one 1 turnover on the day, but made it count. Safety Jahsen Wint recovered a fumble in the first half. The Herd's front seven sacked Hokie quarterback Kyron Drones four times. 

Drones ended the day with Drones made it a one-score game with seven minutes remaining, but the Marshall defense once again stopped things there. That secured Marshall's first win over an ACC team since 2013 and their first win against Virginia Tech since 1940.

Former Marshall QB Grant Wells did not play for Virginia Tech.

The Herd continue their season next Saturday as they begin Sun Belt conference play and host Old Dominion. 

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Joe Londergan
JOE LONDERGAN

Joe covers college sports from the Group of Five ranks and beyond. He has worked in the sports industry since 2008, earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville, and a Master's degree from Seattle University.

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