Nov. 9—By GRANT TRAYLOR

Marshall Athletics

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Marshall Football earned bowl eligibility and kept pace in the Sun Belt Conference race for the division title with a 37-3 win at Southern Miss on Saturday at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

With the win, Marshall moves to 6-3 overall and 4-1 in Sun Belt Conference action.

"I'm really proud of their willingness to continue to prepare and grind and to come out today in a tough environment and execute," Marshall Head Coach Charles Huff said. "I told them that we were going to Mississippi for one thing and that was to be intentional about going 1-0 this week. They responded and there's obviously some things that we've got to get cleaned up, but really proud of how they battled and executed in clutch situations."

The Herd defense led the way for the game's success, accounting for a season-high 12.0 tackles for loss to go along with 5.0 sacks.

Mike Green, the reigning Reese's Senior Bowl National Defensive Player of the Week and SBC Defensive Player of the Week, continued his impressive season against the Golden Eagles, racking up 3.0 sacks that resulted in 30 yards lost for Southern Miss.

Ian Foster also took advantage extended playing time, registering a team-high eight tackles with 2.0 tackles for loss and two pass breakups — one of which led to a Landyn Watson interception.

"I was just out there, having fun," Foster said. "That's what I like to do — have fun and play the game I love. I'm trying to make the most of it. We always have to stay hungry and we always want to make a play."

Marshall took a 17-3 lead into the locker room and put the game away in the third quarter with 17 unanswered points as the offense got in gear.

Quarterback Braylon Braxton threw for 220 yards and one score rushed for another 59 and a score in leading the Thundering Herd offense to 526 yards on the day — their highest offensive output against an FBS opponent this season.

Ethan Payne led the ground attack for the Herd with 104 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown in the first half.

In addition to Green and Foster, Marshall's defensive got turnover-producing performances from defensive lineman Braydin Ward, who dropped deep into coverage to pick off a fade route, Monroe Beard, who forced a fumble that Jaden Yates recovered and TaShawn Jeter, who added the first interception of his career for the Herd.

"If you get an opportunity to make a play, you have to make it," Huff said. "We're past the point of wondering how many opportunities we are going to get. There were some big plays today by some guys who probably have not had their name called as much. That's great because that builds confidence for this stretch run."

Marshall returns to action at 1 p.m. next Saturday when the Herd hosts Coastal Carolina in the annual '75' game.

First Quarter

MRSH — FG Totten 23, 12:40.

Second Quarter

MRSH — Braxton 2 run (Totten kick), 13:43.

USM — FG Gibbs 51, 10:02.

MRSH — E.Payne 36 run (Totten kick), 6:43.

Third Quarter

MRSH — Chapman 14 run (Totten kick), 13:29.

MRSH — T.Payne 18 pass from Braxton (Totten kick), 10:45.

MRSH — FG Totten 27, 3:19.

Fourth Quarter

MRSH — FG Totten 26, 8:26.

A — 20,502.

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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Marshall, E.Payne 13-104, Braxton 13-59, Houston 11-40, Turner 3-27, Gray 5-17, Chapman 1-14, Pennington 1-6. Southern Miss., Clark 8-61, Washington 10-37, Clay 6-31, Gray 5-11, Simmons 1-(minus 6), Crawford 10-(minus 21).

PASSING — Marshall, Braxton 14-21-1-220, Earle 2-4-0-39. Southern Miss., Crawford 5-18-3-70.

RECEIVING — Marshall, Robinson 3-52, Fitzpatrick 2-78, Chester 2-45, T.Payne 2-34, C.Montgomery 2-22, Brown 1-15, Chapman 1-7, Turner 1-5, Houston 1-4, E.Payne 1-(minus 3). Southern Miss., Mims 1-35, Daly 1-25, Simmons 1-7, Pittman 1-4, Clark 1-(minus 1).

MISSED FIELD GOALS — Marshall, Totten 43, Totten 32.