Game Notes – Middle Tennessee at No. 16/15 Marshall – November 14, 2020
The win, which came on the 50th anniversary of the Southern Airways Flight 932 crash that claimed the lives of 75 people, was the culmination of an emotional week of ceremonies and remembrances. The 37 players who died in the crash 50 years ago on November 7, 1970, were awarded posthumous degrees Friday afternoon. Thundering Herd coaches and players, on the way to the team hotel Friday night, stopped at Spring Hill Cemetery and visited the Marshall Memorial to pay their respects. The annual fountain ceremony was held Saturday morning.
The milestone anniversary brought much national attention, including a segment on ESPN’s College Gameday, articles from news organizations from around the country. The 50th anniversary, national ranking and an undefeated season made Marshall football the most compelling story in college football.
Marshall now leads the all-time series with Middle Tennessee, 6-4.
The Thundering Herd has won nine consecutive games at Joan C. Edwards Stadium and nine consecutive
Conference USA home games.
Marshall improved its record to 21-3 all-time playing as a Top 25 team. MU head coach Doc Holliday is 8-1 all-time as the coach of a ranked team.
Senior linebacker Tavante Beckett recovered his fourth fumble of the season, which is tied for the second most in a single season in Marshall history. Beckett is tied with Larry McCloud (1996) and Pete Diabo (1971), and is one away from tying Ken Green, who had five fumble recoveries in 1987. Beckett’s six career fumble recoveries is tied for third most in program history with Donahue Stephenson (1990-93) and Johnathan Goddard (2001-04).
The first quarter touchdown by senior receiver Willie Johnson was his first of the season and ninth of his career. Johnson established new career highs for receptions (eight), receiving yards (137) and receiving touchdowns
(two).
Freshman quarterback Grant Wells set new single game career highs for completions (25), passing yards (336) and passing touchdowns (five). This is the 20th time a Herd quarterback has passed for at least five touchdown
passes in a game.
Wells has thrown a touchdown pass in four consecutive games.
The game captains for Marshall were junior running back Brenden Knox, junior running back Sheldon Evans and senior lineman Alex Mollette on offense; and senior linebacker Tavante Beckett and senior defensive back
Nazeeh Johnson on defense.
COURTESY MARSHALL ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
