By GRANT TRAYLOR
Marshall Associate Athletic Director of Communications
FRISCO, Texas –Marshall Football jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but could not make it stand in a 35-17 loss to UTSA in front of 11,215 fans at Toyota Stadium in the 2023 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl.
With the loss, Marshall ends its season at 6-7.
“Obviously, it’s not the result that we wanted, but I’m really proud of these players…,” Marshall head coach Charles Huff said. “What we learned this season is that, ultimately, you’ve got to persevere. Expectations, talent and what you want to be able to do has to match your discipline to be able to consistently do what you’re supposed to do.”
The Thundering Herd used its defense to jump out to an early lead as Eli Neal snagged an interception off a deflection that set Marshall up inside the UTSA 10-yard line.
Ethan Payne turned that interception into points with a 1-yard touchdown run that gave the Herd the early advantage.
The lead grew to 14-0 on the first play of the second quarter as Marshall running back Rasheen Ali took a handoff off the left side and out-raced the UTSA defense to the end zone for a 64-yard score that served as the longest touchdown run in Frisco Bowl history.
After UTSA tied the game at 14, Marshall’s Rece Verhoff connected on a 44-yard field goal to give the Herd its final lead of the contest at 17-14 with 5:12 left in the second quarter.
However, the Roadrunners got a late touchdown in the first half to take the lead into halftime and never looked back.
Marshall’s defense forced three turnovers in the contest with the season’s leaders coming up with all three for the Herd.
In addition to the early interception, Neal had a fumble recovery following a TyQaze Leggs sack while Micah Abraham came up with a first quarter interception also.
Abraham’s interception was the 12th of his career and he added a pass breakup, which vaulted him into No. 1 in Marshall history in passes defended with 54 (42 pass breakups, 12 interceptions). Abraham passed Melvin Cunningham who had 53 from 1993-96.
Neal finished with eight tackles, including a tackle for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery in his final game with the Herd.
“It means a lot just to be able to go out there with my brothers one more time,” Neal said. “It wasn’t the result we wanted, but it was cool to be able to be with my guys one more time. That’s my biggest takeaway from the day.”
Marshall wide receiver Jayden Harrison also had a big game, finishing with six catches for a career-high 132 yards for the Herd.
Ali finished with nine carries for 92 yards and the touchdown.
UTSA 0 21 7 7 — 35
Marshall 7 10 0 0 — 17
First Quarter
MRSH–E.Payne 1 run (Verhoff kick), 8:54.
Second Quarter MRSH–Ali 64 run (Verhoff kick), 14:48.
UTSA–Henry 3 run (C.Allen kick), 11:27.
UTSA–Cephus 44 pass from McCown (C.Allen kick), 8:53.
MRSH–FG Verhoff 44, 5:12.
UTSA–Henry 1 run (C.Allen kick), :47.
Third Quarter
UTSA–Amador 19 pass from McCown (C.Allen kick), 4:49.
Fourth Quarter
UTSA–R.Griffin 17 run (C.Allen kick), 8:39. A–11,215.
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UTSA MRSH
First downs 20 13
Total Net Yards 386 367
Rushes-yards 41-135 34-109
Passing 251 258
Punt Returns 2–2 0-0
Kickoff Returns 1-23 2-36
Interceptions Ret. 1-57 2-2
Comp-Att-Int 22-31-2 15-34-1
Sacked-Yards Lost 2-10 6-40
Punts 5-45.0 7-40.286
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 1-0
Penalties-Yards 5-60 8-60
Time of Possession 29:59 30:01
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING–UTSA, R.Griffin 11-43, McCown 8-38, Henry 14-37, Barnes 8-17. Marshall, Ali 9-92, E.Payne 11-34, Turner 4-10, Keaton 1-3, Pennington 9-(minus 30).
PASSING–UTSA, McCown 22-31-2-251. Marshall, Pennington 15-33-0-258, Parachek 0-1-1-0.
RECEIVING–UTSA, Cephus 7-102, Ogle-Kellogg 3-54, McCuin 3-28, Carpenter 2-13, Henry 2-12, Amador 1-19, Wilson 1-13, McCoy 1-5, Thomas 1-3, R.Griffin 1-2. Marshall, J.Harrison 6-132, McMillan 3-44, C.Montgomery 2-59, Keaton 2-10, Soto 1-8, E.Payne 1-5.
MISSED FIELD GOALS–Marshall, Verhoff 53, Verhoff 34.
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