Marshall quarterback Grant Wells passed for 307 yards and four first-half touchdowns to lead the Thundering Herd to a 59-0 victory over Eastern Kentucky University in the college football opener played at Joan C. Edwards Stadium on Saturday.
The Thundering Herd made 12,000 tickets available in the 38,000-seat facility.
Marshall, which amassed 627 yards in total offense built a 38-0 halftime lead.
Wells tossed TD passes to Xavier Gaines (22 yards), Talik Keaton (21 yards), Garet Morrell (2 yards), and Jaron Woodyard (42 yards).
Brenden Knox rushed for an eight-yard touchdown while Sheldon Evans and Lawrence Papillon added runs of 6 and 13 yards in the third quarter.
Backup quarterback Luke Zban tossed a three-yard scoring pass to Amir Richardson to cap the scoring.
The Herd will next host Appalachian State on Sept. 19.
At Huntington
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
EKU (0-1)…..0 0 0 0 – 0
MU (1-0)…..21 17 14 7 – 59
Scoring:
First Quarter
MU – Xavier Gaines, 22-yard pass from Grant Wells (Shane Ciucci kick), 12:19
MU – Brenden Knox, 8-yard run (Shane Ciucci kick), 8:04
MU – Talik Keaton, 21-yard pass from Grant Wells (Shane Ciucci kick), 2:01
Second Quarter
MU – Garet Morrell, 2-yard pass from Grant Wells (Shane Ciucci kick), 10:02
MU – Shane Ciucci, 23-yard field goal, 6:07
MU – Jaron Woodyard, 42-yard pass from Grant Wells (Shane Ciucci kick), 3:07
Third Quarter
MU – Sheldon Evans, 6-yard run (Shane Ciucci kick), 7:04
MU – Lawrence Papillon, 13-yard run (Shane Ciucci kick), :43
Fourth Quarter
MU – Amir Richardson, 3-yard pass from Luke Zban (Shane Ciucci kick), 4:02
Up Next: Marshall (1-0) vs. Appalachian State (1-0), Sept. 19.