HUNTINGTON – Quarterback Cam Fancher had a career-high 380 all-purpose yards and defensive lineman Elijah Alston returned an interception for a touchdown to help the Marshall Thundering Herd earn a 41-35 win on Saturday.
Fancher finished the game completing 29 of 25 passes for 278 yards and two scores through the air. On the ground, he ran for 102 yards on 15 carries. His 380 yards eclipsed his previous career-high of 337 from last season.
Things didn't look promising in the second quarter, as the Monarchs took a 21-3 on a 70-yard touchdown dash by Kadarius Calloway.
But on the ensuing kickoff, the Herd got a much needed spark from Jayden Harrison, who returned the kick 43-yards.
A 23-yard pass by Fancher to Mason Pierce and a passing interference call on Old Dominion would help move the chains deep into ODU territory.
Fancher would hit Cade Conley on a one-yard scoring toss and Rece Verhoff would convert the point after to cut the Monarchs lead to 21-10.
Marshall (4-0, 1-0 Sun Belt) would cut into the lead even more as Fancher found Caleb Coombs for a 22-yard touchdown and the first of Coombs' career. After Verhoff's extra point, the Herd trailed 21-17.
Coombs finished the game with eight receptions for 76 yards, both being career-highs.
"We didn't panic," Fancher said. "We knew adversity was going to come at some point. It was just about how we handled it from that point on."
But despite all of the big plays Fancher made with the ball, his biggest play may have been without the ball, as Fancher made a touchdown-saving tackle after a turnover.
The tackle would prove to be a difference three plays later when Alston came up with the interception.
Alston would step in front of a pass that was heading towards the flats, and out-run the rest of the Old Dominion offense for an 85-yard return and cap off a 28-point scoring rally by the Herd.
Alston finished with six tackles, including a half-tackle for loss, the interception return for a touchdown, another pass breakup and three quarterback hurries.
Rasheen Ali found the end zone twice, making it four straight weeks the Marshall running back has had a rushing score.
Ali's second score would be from one-yard out to give the Herd a 38-28 lead with 2:59 remaining in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth, Verhoff would add a 30-yard field goal to give Marshall 41-28 lead.
The Monarchs (2-3, 1-1) would manage to cut the lead to 41-35 on a 41-yard touchdown run by Jayden Harrison with 8:09 left in the game.
ODU would get the ball back with 6:05 left and look to take the lead, but defensive back J.J. Roberts would come up with an interception to thwart any hope of a Monarch comeback.
The Herd will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina next Saturday to face the North Carolina State Wolfpack at 2 p.m.
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