HUNTINGTON, W.V. — In a thrilling matchup on Saturday afternoon, Jacobie Henderson scored an impressive touchdown by returning a blocked field goal 65 yards, while Braylon Braxton showcased his skills by throwing three touchdown passes, leading Marshall to a 31-19 victory over Coastal Carolina. This win allowed Marshall to maintain its position at the top of the Sun Belt Conference East Division as they celebrated the annual “75” game, commemorating the 75 lives lost in the tragic plane crash on November 14, 1970.

The game began with Braydon Bennett swiftly placing the Chanticleers in front, scoring a touchdown from the 4-yard line just four minutes in, bringing the score to 7-0. However, Marshall quickly responded, with Nathan Totten kicking a 39-yard field goal and Braxton connecting on a 14-yard touchdown pass to Chuck Montgomery, granting Marshall a 10-7 lead. Henderson’s pivotal moment came shortly before halftime, extending the lead to 17-7 by returning the blocked field goal for a touchdown. In the third quarter, Braxton tossed a 7-yard pass to Christian Fitzpatrick and later added a 2-yard touchdown pass to Toby Payne to solidify Marshall’s lead early in the fourth quarter.

Despite entering the matchup ranked 11th in the FBS with an average of 218.9 rushing yards per game, Marshall struggled significantly against Coastal Carolina’s defense, managing only 35 yards on 32 carries. Braxton had a solid performance, completing 20 of 31 passes for a total of 219 yards, remaining unscathed in the interception department.

On the opposite side, Ethan Vasko stood out for Coastal Carolina, completing 21 of 39 passes for 267 yards, including one touchdown but also threw an interception. Meanwhile, Bennett led the ground attack for the Chanticleers with 19 carries for 67 yards. The Thundering Herd improved to a record of 7-3, including 5-1 in conference play, as they entered the game tied with Georgia Southern for the division lead, with only two games left in the season.