HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Rakeem Cato threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns, helping Marshall build a sizable early lead in an easy 52-24 win over Western Carolina on Saturday night.

Cato was 32 of 42 passing for the Thundering Herd (1-1) before giving way to freshman backup Blake Frohnapfel, who was a perfect 4 of 4 passing for 53 yards with one touchdown.

Marshall’s quarterback spread it around in the second quarter, throwing TD passes of 1 yard to Gator Hoskins, 2 yards to Aaron Dobson and 12 yards to Demetrius Evans for a 24-0 Marshall lead. Richard Sigmon’s 40-yard field goal at the halftime whistle finally opened the scoring for the Catamounts (1-1).

Devin Arrington returned an interception 18 yards for a score to push the Thundering Herd’s advantage to 45-10.

The Thundering Herd outgained the Catamounts 615-335, including a 430-191 yard margin through the air.

W. Carolina 0 3 7 14 — 24

Marshall 3 21 21 7 — 52

First Quarter

Mar—FG Haig 24, 11:46.

Second Quarter

Mar—Hoskins 1 pass from Cato (Haig kick), 14:07.

Mar—Dobson 2 pass from Cato (Haig kick), 5:52.

Mar—Evans 12 pass from Cato (Haig kick), 2:41.

WCar—FG Sigmon 40, :00.

Third Quarter

WCar—J.Mitchell 5 pass from Sullivan (Sigmon kick), 10:27.

Mar—Butler 8 run (Haig kick), 6:59.

Mar—Watson 3 run (Haig kick), 2:12.

Mar—Arrington 18 interception return (Haig kick), 1:46.

Fourth Quarter

WCar—Sullivan 1 run (Sigmon kick), 10:58.

Mar—E.Frohnapfel 29 pass from B.Frohnapfel (Haig kick), 6:57.

WCar—Sullivan 8 run (Sigmon kick), 3:12.

A—25,317.

———

WCU Mar

First downs 21 37

Rushes-yards 35-144 48-185

Passing 191 430

Comp-Att-Int 19-40-1 36-46-0

Return Yards 0 20

Punts-Avg. 7-40.7 1-37.0

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 9-75 9-80

Time of Possession 29:39 30:21

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING—W. Carolina, Sullivan 10-50, M.Johnson 5-30, Warren 5-26, Ramsey 10-24, Vaughn 5-14. Marshall, Butler 8-60, Grooms 12-42, Van 10-40, Watson 6-32, Taliaferro 7-29, B.Frohnapfel 2-9, Cato 2-(minus 5), Team 1-(minus 22).

PASSING—W. Carolina, Sullivan 19-40-1-191. Marshall, Cato 32-42-0-377, B.Frohnapfel 4-4-0-53.

RECEIVING—W. Carolina, J.Mitchell 9-84, Ramsey 4-32, Brown 2-18, Orr 1-36, Benson 1-10, Robinson 1-8, Vaughn 1-3. Marshall, Dobson 9-81, Anta.Wilson 6-98, Shuler 6-79, King 4-41, Snipes-Booker 2-39, E.Frohnapfel 2-35, Evans 2-22, Grooms 1-20, Kelson 1-6, Garrett 1-5, Van 1-3, Hoskins 1-1.