HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Isaiah Green threw for a career-high four touchdowns and Talik Keaton returned a punt 67 yards for a score as Marshall opened the season with a dominating 56-17 victory over VMI on Saturday.
Marshall took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after Keaton’s return and pushed that to 21-0 after Green nailed Artie Henry with a 51-yard scoring toss early in the second. Green hit Xavier Gaines on a 4-yard TD pass late in the second quarter and Brenden Knox capped a 14-play, 83-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard plunge for a score to go up 35-7 at the break.
Marshall amassed 620 yards of total offense, while limiting VMI to 257. The Herd had a balanced attack of 340 yards passing and 280 rushing with 35 first downs.
Alex Thomson, who relieved Green, threw for 102 yards and a score. Corey Gammage caught five passes for 82 yards and a score as 11 Marshall receivers recorded catches.
VMI’s Reece Udinski threw for 192 yards and one touchdown.
Marshall stats
Marshall 56, VMI 17
VMI 0 7 0 10 = 17
Marshall 14 21 14 7 = 56
First Quarter
MSH—W.Johnson 29 pass from Green (Rohrwasser kick), 3:09
MSH—Keaton 67 punt return (Rohrwasser kick), 1:42
Second Quarter
MSH—Henry 51 pass from Green (Rohrwasser kick), 13:24
VMI—Lara 50 pass from Udinski (Clemons kick), 13:10
MSH—Gaines 4 pass from Green (Rohrwasser kick), 4:14
MSH—Knox 1 run (Rohrwasser kick), :00
Third Quarter
MSH—Gammage 33 pass from Green (Rohrwasser kick), 9:58
MSH—Knox 1 run (Rohrwasser kick), :00
Fourth Quarter
VMI—FG Clemons 28, 14:37
VMI—Morgan 3 run (Clemons kick), 8:48
MSH—Morrell 11 pass from Thomson (Rohrwasser kick), 4:31
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VMI MSH
First downs 17 36
Rushes-yards 27-56 46-280
Passing 201 340
Comp-Att-Int 22-40-1 24-36-1
Return Yards 23 198
Punts-Avg. 9-29.77 3-44.66
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-1
Penalties-Yards 8-50 8-78
Time of Possession 25:40 34:20
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—VMI, Ramsey 11-45, Bridy 6-24, Ty.Smith 1-5, Newman 2-5, Morgan 1-3, Martin 1-(minus 2), Udinski 5-(minus 24). Marshall, T.King 10-75, Evans 7-56, Green 8-46, Knox 10-43, Papillon 6-34, Thomson 4-16, Gaines 1-10.
PASSING—VMI, Udinski 20-35-0-192, Newman 2-5-1-9. Marshall, Green 18-28-1-238, Thomson 6-7-0-102, (Team) 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING—VMI, Martin 7-61, Lara 5-72, Bridy 4-22, C.Owens 2-16, M.Jackson 1-12, Herres 1-8, Thomas 1-7, Ramsey 1-3. Marshall, Gammage 5-82, T.Richardson 3-23, Levias 3-21, Henry 2-56, Thompson 2-54, T.King 2-24, Gaines 2-14, Scarcelle 2-10, W.Johnson 1-29, Walden 1-16, Morrell 1-11.
MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.