SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 21, 2013
Virginia Tech 29, Marshall 21 (3OT): Logan Thomas threw for 181 yards and accounted for three touchdowns as the Hokies survived a major scare to beat the visiting Thundering Herd for the eighth straight time.
Trey Edmunds ran for 110 yards on 22 carries and Virginia Tech (3-1) forced three turnovers and recorded three sacks. The Hokies blocked and returned a punt for a touchdown in the first quarter and then pulled ahead on Thomas' 2-yard rush in triple overtime to seal the come-from-behind victory.
Rakeem Cato went 19-of-41 for 228 yards with two touchdowns in the air and one on the ground. Devon Smith and Gator Hoskins caught touchdown passes in the first half for Marshall (2-2). Tommy Shuler racked up 120 receiving yards while Essray Taliaferro chipped in with 105 yards on the ground in a losing effort.
The Hokies opened the scoring just two minutes into the game courtesy of a blocked punt that Derek DiNardo returned for a touchdown. The Thundering Herd answered quickly as Cato found Smith for a 12-yard score. Virginia Tech regained the lead after Thomas' 2-yard plunge before Marshall reeled off 14 straight points to take a 21-14 advantage into halftime.
The Hokies tied things up when Thomas found Willie Byrn in the end zone on fourth down with 3:09 remaining in the fourth quarter. Both teams missed potential game-winning field goals in overtime.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cato has now thrown for at least one touchdown in 22 consecutive games. … K Cody Journell, who missed three field goals and an extra point last week, did not dress for Virginia Tech. … Both teams went a combined 0-5 on field goal attempts.