NORFOLK, Va. — Braylon Braxton played a pivotal role in leading Marshall to a narrow victory over Old Dominion, throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for 140 yards on 18 attempts in a thrilling game that ended 42-35 on Saturday night.

With this victory, Marshall improved its record to 8-3 overall and 6-1 in the Sun Belt Conference, putting them in a position to secure the East Division title if they win their regular season finale against James Madison next week.

Old Dominion managed to tie the game at 35 with a 1-yard touchdown run by Colton Joseph with 8:23 remaining. However, Braxton showcased his leadership by guiding the team on an impressive 11-play, 75-yard drive, which included a crucial 13-yard run to the 1-yard line on third down, ultimately leading to Payne’s touchdown that put Marshall ahead again with just over four minutes to play.

Braxton’s offensive prowess included touchdown throws of 51 yards to Christian Fitzpatrick, 22 yards to Charles Montgomery, and 37 yards to Carl Chester. The latter set up a successful 2-point conversion pass to DeMarcus Harris, creating a 35-28 lead with 14:52 left in the game.

For Old Dominion, Joseph completed 19 of 31 passes for 227 yards, contributing one touchdown but also an interception. He had a strong game on the ground as well, rushing for 158 yards with two touchdowns on 25 carries. Aaron Young also made an impact, amassing 111 rushing yards, which included scoring runs of 24 yards in the second quarter and 2 yards in the third.

In summary, Marshall’s victory was a showcase of their offensive strengths, with Braxton’s versatile contributions proving essential in a closely contested battle that keeps their championship hopes alive for another week ahead.