Marshall Wins Homecoming Game Against Rice

Wednesday, October 19, 2011 - 00:21 by Chris Spencer, HNN Photographer, By Mike Holbrook

Huntington, WV (HNN) – Tron Martinez scored on a 4 yard touchdown run with 1:49 remaining to lift the Marshall Thundering Herd over the Rice Owls 24-20 before a homecoming crowd of 27,509 at Edwards Stadium.

The winning drive was set up when Vinny Curry forced a fumble of running back Sam McGuffie setting the Herd up on the Owls 23 yard line. Curry finished the game with nine tackles, four for a loss with three and a half sacks.

Marshall opened up a 14-0 lead on a pair of A.J. Graham first half rushing touchdowns – the Herd’s first rushing touchdowns of the season. Graham led Marshall with 129 yards rushing on 20 attempts.

Rice cut into Marshall’s lead with a pair of Chris Boswell field goals before the Herd’s Tyler Warner ended the first half with a 45 yard field goal giving Marshall the 17-6 halftime lead.

The Owls took the lead on a pair of third quarter touchdowns. First quarterback Taylor McHargue hit Vance McDonald on a 49 yard touchdown strike, then running back Sam McGuffie capped off a 7 play, 79 yard drive with a 4 yard touchdown run.

For the game Rice outgained Marshall 361 to 328 yards but the Herd’s defense limited the Owls to just 2 of 12 third down conversions.