Marshall 52-37 App State (Oct. 5, 2024) Game Recap

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — — Braylon Braxton passed for 129 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 140 yards and two more scores to lead Marshall past Appalachian State 52-37 on Saturday.

It was the first time Marshall scored more than 50 points against an FBS opponent since beating Massachusetts 51-10 in 2020.

Marshall scored 21 straight points in the second quarter to take a 28-10 lead, started by Braxton's 75-yard connection with Jordan Houston. On App State's next offensive play, J'Coryan Anderson returned an interception for a 13-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-10.

Braxton also had a 3-yard TD run and a 5-yard scoring pass to AJ Turner in the first half as Marshall led 28-17 at halftime.

Braxton added a 26-yard touchdown pass to Chuck Montgomery early in the fourth to make it 45-24. Braxton sealed the decision by leaving a 35-yard keeper untouched with 4:16 left.

Turner added 65 yards rushing, including a 29-yard touchdown in the third, for Marshall (3-2, 1-0 Sun Belt Conference).

Joey Aguilar was 26 of 44 for 293 passing yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for Appalachian State (2-3, 0-2).

HURRICANE HELENE

The game was played a week after Hurricane Helene severely devastated the Appalachian State campus in Boone, North Carolina.

The team's home game against Liberty on Sept. 28 was canceled and the university postponed classes until at least Oct. 15, although residence halls and dining facilities remain operational. Facilities damaged included the school's multi-purpose gymnasium and an 8,000-seat event center used as Red Cross accommodation.

Appalachian State coach Shawn Clark canceled his scheduled appearance on Monday's Sun Belt coaches conference call. Instead, he and his players helped unload truckloads of donated supplies.

“We are very fortunate to be able to play this game of football that we love,” Clark said. “Football is important. But it's not the most important thing right now.

Several football coaches reached out to Clark to show their support, including Charles Huff of Marshall. Marshall is no stranger to tragedy – a plane crash in 1970 killed 75 people, including most of the football team, in the worst disaster in US sports history.

——

Get AP Top 25 poll alerts and updates throughout the season. Sign up here. AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football