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Sunday, October 18, 2020 Follow us: www.rustonleader.com Thundering Herd blitzes past Bulldogs Marshall dominates trenches in 35-17 C-USA win over LA By T. Scott Boatright is’ place, but was quickly [email protected] replaced after getting beat for a sack on the game’s first Football is game won play. True freshman Dakota and lost in the trenches. then got his chance to show- Marshall blitzkrieged case his ability and earned Tech with the postgame praise from Holtz. ferocity of a World War Marshall’s defense al- II German Panzer tank lowed Tech only 267 yards division Saturday as the of total offense with 86 of Thundering Herd stormed those yards coming in the past the Bulldogs 35-17 in fourth quarter after the front of 7,140 fans at Joe game had already been Aillet Stadium. decided. The Herd lines dominat- While Tech’s defense ed both sides of the ball as kept the Bulldogs in the Marshall limited Tech to a game as long as it could, total of seven rushing yards failure to pressure Mar- on 24 carries while sacking shall quarterback Grant Bulldogs quarterback Luke Wells proved costly as the Anthony six times. game progressed. Meanwhile, Marshall Wells completed 19-of-24 running back Brenden passes for 227 yards and two Knox rushed for 125 yards touchdowns while rushing and scored two touchdowns six times for 27 yards and to push the Thundering another score. Herd to 4-0 overall and 2-0 “He threw the ball very in Conference USA. efficiently tonight,” Holtz Tech fell to 3-2 and 2-1 in said of Wells. “They were C-USA play. 13-of-16 on third down to- Marshall dominated the night. He was very efficient. game especially on third If you’ve got to get all your down, where the Herd secondary involved to stop Photos by DARRELL JAMES converted 13-of-16 attempts the zone schemes, (it’s not Louisiana Tech senior receiver Adrian Hardy looks the ball in for a complete as Marshall defensive good). They were very ef- and totaled more than 35 back Micah Abraham closes in during Saturday’s Conference USA clash at Stadium. minutes of possession ficient on third down. while holding the Bulldogs “We’ve got to be able to call was a smash play to to only 1-of-10 third down get more pressure on the senior running back Justin conversions. quarterback. We had a pass Henderson, but it was the “They have a really good interference because a guy Thundering Herd that did football team,” said Tech got behind us and we were the smashing. Marshall’s head coach Skip Holtz of in three-deep (defense). We defense, which chalked up the Thundering Herd. “I gave up the last touchdown nine tackles for loss in the was proud of the way the at the end in three deep. game, stuffed Henderson defense competed, but We’re trying to make it as at the goal line as the final we’ve got to clean up the simple as we can. We’re try- seconds ticked off the clock mistakes. But, if you look ing to protect our corners. and Marshall retained a at this game, our woes are We gave up two deep balls. 11-point advantage at in- on offense.” Before you start blitzing the termission. “We can’t run the ball, quarterback you’ve got to Officials reviewed the and we can’t protect our feel confident enough that play but whether or not quarterback. Tonight and you can cover their receiv- Henderson had crossed the last week (a 21-17 win over ers. We dropped eight men goal line was inconclusive. Texas-El Paso) are two poor back a number of times “I don’t want to say that performances, and we’re tonight and still gave up it didn’t matter because if not a very good offensive some big plays. We’ve got the outcome of the game football team right now. to get better.” had been three points it That starts with me. I have The beginning of the would have been huge,” Tech sophomore defensive back Bee Jay Williamson takes down Marshall to do a better job.” end for the Bulldogs came Holtz said. “I hate that we Tech offensive left tackle late in the first half. didn’t get in. I was disap- receiver Talik Keaton during Saturday’s action. Williamson finished with seven Donavaughn Campbell was Trailing 14-3, the Bull- pointed that we didn’t get tackles in the contest. back after missing last dogs marched 78 yards on in. But I didn’t feel like the change it if we wanted to sneak under center. Had scoring scamper midway week’s game, but COVID-19 12 plays over the final 1:57. air was out of the balloon. go without something else. there been a little farther through the third quarter issues kept starting right Facing a second and I probably did second-guess “But I felt like we had a to go, it would have given pushed the Marshall ad- tackle Antwan Lewis out goal on the one-yard line myself. I had plenty of time half of football to go. I trust us more options. I just felt vantage to 21-3 before Tech of the contest for a second with six seconds remaining to think about the call. We our offense line to be able like I trusted our offensive quarterback Luke Anthony straight week. Sophomore and no timeouts left, Holtz only had about three time- to get a little bit of move- line enough to get the half- connected with Adrian Biron Rossell started the opted to to run the ball outs during that (sequence), ment inside and be able to yard.” Hardy on a 12-yard scor- opening Tech drive in Lew- from the 1-yard line. The so we had plenty of time to make half a yard. I refuse Holtz said he didn’t ing strike cut the deficit to believe we have to throw think the play was the dif- to 21-10. it from the half yard line to ference in the game. Hardy led the Tech re- be able to make it.” “The difference in the ceivers with nine recep- Holtz said there was game was that Marshall tions for 102 yards and one no question about what was 13-of-16 on third down touchdown. Henderson wanted to do and we were 1-of-10,” Holtz After Marshall had on the play. said. “I think the difference locked things up with an- “He was adamant that he was that we couldn’t protect other pair of touchdowns, wanted it, that he’ll make our passer and they could. Tech back-up quarterback it,” Holtz said of Hender- That was the difference in Aaron Allen hit Isaiah son. “He was adamant to the football game.” Graham on a nine-yard me about it. There were a lot Marshall didn’t have toucdhown pass with 36 of thoughts being thrown such trouble with its rush- seconds remaining to close around during that time. ing attack. Knox was the out the scoring. We talked about getting big workhorse for the Thun- Tech linebacker Trey with a full-house backfield. dering Herd, totaling 125 Baldwin finished with a But I felt that play gave yards on 32 rush carries career-best 16 tackles while Justin — a 220-pound back while adding one catch for Tyler Grubbs added nine — an opportunity to get 13 yards. The 32 carries takedowns and Maki Cara- moving downhill. I know were the most by an op- bin chipped in with eight (Marshall) put a lot of guys posing running back since tackles for the Bulldogs. up in there but I’d much Anthony Wales (Western The Bulldogs return to rather give it to Justin Kentucky) rushed the ball action next Saturday when Henderson on a blast play 36 times against the Bull- they travel to Texas-San than I would (quarterback dogs in the 2016 Conference Antonio to face the Road- Tech junior receiver Jawaun Johnson (8) hauled in a career-high four passes Luke Anthony) being our USA championship game. runners in a C-USA West for 36 yards in the loss against the Thundering Herd. runner on a quarterback Knox’s seven-yard Division showdown.