Box score

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall football scored twice in the fourth quarter and showed hard work in the trenches in key moments of the game to earn a 28-23 victory over ULM in front of 21,478 fans at Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Senior Day.

With the win, Marshall moves to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in Sun Belt Conference play.

“It was a really good job by the players to keep their composure and keep their competitive spirit – keep fighting and keep responding,” Marshall football coach Charles Huff said. “We needed a win like this where we had to fight through. We showed today that we can fight against a really good football team.”

The game came down to a thrilling fourth quarter where the Herd made key plays to secure the victory.

Marshall took the lead for good with a 33-yard touchdown pass Braylon Braxton To Christian Fitzpatrickwho made a highlight-reel catch over a defender for the score that put the Herd up 21-17.

“The touchdown was progress for Bray, but sometimes you just have that feeling in your stomach that the ball is going to hit you,” Fitzpatrick said. “I knew I would find that play right away. I just made sure I had the position on my DB, and once the ball was up there I knew no one but me was going to get to it.”

Fitzpatrick's catch came on a two-play, 78-yard drive that began with a 45-yard run-by Jordan Houston in which he broke several tackles to bring the Herd into ULM territory.

The drive was set up by one of the biggest defensive players of the day – a good effort from the Marshall defender Jacobie Hendersonwho stayed home with a quarterback option for a big tackle to lose ULM quarterback Aidan Armenta, who forced a short field goal but gave the Herd momentum.

Henderson's play was indicative of the Herd defense in the fourth quarter, as they made multiple stops behind the line of scrimmage at the most critical moment of the game to contain ULM's rushing attack and force the Warhawks to go to the air, which led to a change in field position.

Marshall took advantage after one of those stops as the offensive line took the lead, leading a six-play, 48-yard drive that culminated with… Ethan Paynes 8-yard touchdown run.

During the play, Payne was hit at the 4-yard line, but the offensive line continued to push until he reached the end zone, making the score 28-17 with 3:17 left in the contest.

It was Payne's second touchdown of the game – the first came with 3:52 left in the first half, helping the teams enter the locker room with a 14-1 tie.

Braxton finished the game 10 of 19 for 166 yards and a score, while Houston led the Herd with 80 yards on the ground. Payne added 51 and two points AJ Turner added 49 and a touchdown (6-yard score) in the first quarter.

“We knew this was going to be a difficult game offensively because we knew they were going to try to limit us with their attacking style in terms of possession,” Braxton said. “Finding the rhythm early in the game was a little difficult, but once we were able to find a rhythm, we made the plays that needed to be made.”

At the defensive end Jaden Yates finished the game with 10 tackles and one tackle for loss Mike Green added nine tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and a forced fumble. Josh Moten also had an interception for the Herd.

Marshall next travels to Southern Miss to face the Golden Eagles at MM Roberts Stadium on November 9th at 3:00 p.m. ET/2:00 p.m. CT.