Marshall Thundering Herd vs Colorado State Rams Match Player Stats On Dec 16, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Dec 16, 2017

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- It would not be the New Mexico Bowl without some late drama.

Marshall raced out to a 17-point lead in the third quarter before having to hold on for dear life in a 31-28 victory over Colorado State on Saturday.

The Rams (7-6) had one last chance, getting the ball back at their own 16 with 3:18 left. After an apparent fumble was negated by a defensive holding call on the Thundering Herd (8-5), Colorado State was able to advance on an amazing one-handed catch by Michael Gallup on thirrd-and-10.

Two long pass attempts by Nick Stevens were overthrown and the Rams faced fourth-and-10 on their own 39. An offsides call moved it up five yards, but Stevens' final pass attempt was deflected back to him and he was tackled on the 43, giving the ball back to Marshall.

The Herd needed one last first down to finish the game, which they got when Chase Litton found Ryan Yurachek for an eight-yard pass. Marshall took a knee and ran out the clock.

Trailing 31-14 entering the fourth quarter, Colorado State wasn't about to roll over. Stevens guided the Rams on a quick five-play, 79-yard drive, capping it with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Detrich Clark to pull within 31-21.

Litton threw an interception on Marshall's next series, only to see Colorado State turn it over on downs when Stevens was sacked at midfield. After the Herd's ensuing drive stalled, the Rams went on an eight-play, 85-yard drive. Stevens scored on a 1-yard run with 6:37 left to bring Colorado State within 31-28.

Marshall got things started in the third quarter in a hurry. After the Rams' opening drive stalled out at midfield and they were forced to punt, the Herd were pinned back at the 10. Tyler King then broke through the middle and went 90 yards to increase the Marshall lead to 28-14.

A 21-yard field goal by Kaare Vedvik pushed that advantage to 31-14.

The Herd's defense, though, decided the game in that quarter, stuffing the Rams repeatedly and roughing up Stevens. Colorado State had only 50 yards of total offense in the quarter.

After a scoreless first quarter, things changed quickly at the start of the second as Litton found Tyre Brady for a 76-yard touchdown reception for an early 7-0 lead. It was the third-longest reception in New Mexico Bowl history.

Colorado State followed with a 15-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up 6:12. Stevens hit Clark with a 5-yard scoring pass that tied that game at 7-7 with 8:17 left in the second quarter.

The Herd answered that with a rapid six-play, 75-yard drive. The big play was a 47-yard pass from Litton to Brady that put Marshall on the 18-yard line. Two plays later, Litton found Yurachek across the middle for a 15-yard TD reception and a 14-7 lead.

The Rams responded quickly, moving 75 yards in four plays, with the key being a 48-yard pass from Stevens to Olabisi Johnson. Stevens capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown scamper.

Marshall had an answer for that too, as Keion Davis exploded for a 68-yard TD run to put the Herd back up 21-14 with 3:55 left, a score that held until halftime.

NOTES: Colorado State benched three players for the first half and had another sit out due to a past penalty. LB Josh Watson was flagged for targeting in a game against San Jose State earlier this season, while Rashaad Boddie, Marvin Kinsey and Robert Awunganyi were sidelined after violating an unspecified team rule. ... Marshall entered the game with the highest winning percentage (.833) in bowl games of any Division I team with a minimum of four appearances. The Herd have gone 10-2 since moving up to the FBS ranks. ... The Rams were set up on the east sideline, a possible harbinger as they won the 2008 and 2013 New Mexico Bowls while on that same sideline.