HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Rakeem Cato threw three touchdown passes to rally Marshall in a 26-20 win over Southern Mississippi on Saturday in the Conference USA opener for both teams.

The Thundering Herd (1-1) trailed 17-3 with 5:30 left in the second quarter before Cato orchestrated three straight touchdown drives. His third straight score, a 17-yard pass to Aaron Dobson, gave Marshall a 24-17 lead with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter.

Cato finished with 275 yards and two interceptions on 27-of-42 passing.

Southern Miss (1-1) made it 26-20 on Danny Hrapmann’s 28-yard field goal with 1:22 remaining and was driving for another possible score, but Austin Davis threw his third interception with 1 minute left.

Davis finished with 309 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-49 passing and broke Brett Favre’s career passing mark. Davis, who needed 74 yards coming in, broke the record of 7,695 set from 1987-1990.

Southern Miss. 7 10 0 3 — 20

Marshall 3 7 14 2 — 26

First Quarter

Mar—FG Warner 32, 6:29.

USM—Llanos 13 pass from Davis (Hrapmann kick), 1:15.

Second Quarter

USM—FG Hrapmann 36, 10:41.

USM—Llanos 90 pass from Davis (Hrapmann kick), 5:30.

Mar—Dobson 10 pass from Cato (Warner kick), :27.

Third Quarter

Mar—Hoskins 11 pass from Cato (Warner kick), 13:15.

Mar—Dobson 17 pass from Cato (Warner kick), 1:19.

Fourth Quarter

Mar—Curry Safety, 9:15.

USM—FG Hrapmann 28, 1:22.

A—24,247.

———

USM Mar

First downs 20 20

Rushes-yards 28-75 37-103

Passing 309 275

Comp-Att-Int 25-49-3 27-42-2

Return Yards 91 51

Punts-Avg. 5-37.4 8-42.5

Fumbles-Lost 3-3 0-0

Penalties-Yards 5-20 9-80

Time of Possession 27:14 32:46

———

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—Southern Miss., Woodyard 11-54, Hardy 7-33, Lampley 2-16, Davis 8-(minus 28). Marshall, Martinez 17-69, Van 11-30, Cato 7-5, Team 2-(minus 1).

PASSING—Southern Miss., Davis 25-49-3-309. Marshall, Cato 27-42-2-275.

RECEIVING—Southern Miss., Llanos 5-132, Balentine 5-51, Sullivan 4-58, Lampley 4-29, Hardy 4-27, Spight 2-10, Pierce 1-2. Marshall, Dobson 7-69, A.Wilson 4-30, Van 4-23, Shuler 3-62, Hoskins 3-33, Martinez 2-21, Crawford 2-14, D.Evans 1-21, Kelson 1-2.