HUNTINGTON, WV – The Marshall Thundering Herd secured a convincing 52-37 victory over Appalachian State on Saturday at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, powered by quarterback Braylon Braxton’s three touchdown passes and two rushing scores.
The Thundering Herd (3-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) amassed 365 total yards of offense, with Braxton completing 8 of 14 passes for 129 yards and adding 140 yards on the ground. His efficient performance included a 75-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Houston and scoring connections with A.J. Turner and Charles Montgomery.
Despite the loss, Appalachian State (2-3, 0-2 Sun Belt) quarterback Joey Aguilar threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns, both to receiver Dalton Stroman. The Mountaineers outgained Marshall in total offense with 473 yards but were hindered by penalties, accumulating 15 for 158 yards.
Marshall seized momentum early in the second quarter. Leading 14-10, the Thundering Herd defense capitalized on an App State miscue when J’Coryan Anderson intercepted an Aguilar pass and returned it 13 yards for a touchdown. The defensive score, coming just 12 seconds after Houston’s long touchdown reception, pushed Marshall’s lead to 21-10.
The Mountaineers demonstrated resilience on fourth downs, converting all six attempts. One such conversion resulted in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Aguilar to Stroman late in the second quarter, bringing App State within 28-17 at halftime.
Marshall controlled the third quarter, outscoring App State 10-7. A 29-yard touchdown run by Turner and a 38-yard field goal from Rece Verhoff extended the lead to 38-17. The Mountaineers responded with Stroman’s second touchdown reception, a 27-yard catch on fourth-and-19, but couldn’t close the gap further.
App State’s ground game was led by Aguilar’s 55 rushing yards, while Ahmani Marshall contributed 48 yards and two late touchdown runs. Kaedin Robinson led all receivers with 94 yards on eight catches for the Mountaineers.
Defensively, Marshall’s Jaden Yates recorded a game-high 12 tackles, and Mike Green registered 2.5 sacks. The Thundering Herd defense forced two turnovers and broke up seven passes.
Time of possession favored App State significantly (35:34 to 24:26), but Marshall’s quick-strike offense proved more efficient, averaging 6.9 yards per play compared to the Mountaineers’ 5.6.
The game saw both teams trading scores throughout, with Marshall maintaining at least a two-possession lead for most of the second half. The Thundering Herd’s balanced attack kept App State’s defense off balance, with Turner adding 65 rushing yards and a touchdown to complement Braxton’s performance.
App State’s special teams saw mixed results, with freshman kicker Jackson Moore converting a 42-yard field goal on his first career attempt but missing a 39-yard try later in the game.
The loss marks App State’s second conference defeat of the season, while Marshall begins its Sun Belt schedule with a victory. The Thundering Herd’s defense, despite allowing 473 total yards, made crucial stops and created timely turnovers to support their offensive output.
The game drew an attendance of 28,023 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium, where Marshall improved its home record for the season. The Thundering Herd’s victory adds another chapter to the longtime rivalry between these former Southern Conference opponents.
Up Next
App State is on the road in Sun Belt action again next Saturday, looking to rebound against West Division favorite Louisiana.
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