SportsDirect Inc. staff
Aug 31, 2013
Marshall 52, Miami (Ohio) 14: Rakeem Cato carved up the RedHawks defense with five touchdown passes, including four in the second half, as the Thundering Herd opened their season with a resounding home victory.
Marshall, which led the nation in passing offense (365.1 yards per game) last season, racked up 287 yards through the air in their 2013 opener. Gator Hoskins had two receiving TDs, while Tommy Shuler, Craig Wilkins and Devon Smith added one apiece.
Cato, who finished 22-of-34 for 253 yards, broke a 14-14 halftime tie with a 20-yard TD pass to Hoskins less than two minutes into the third quarter. Later in the period, the junior quarterback hooked up with Wilkins on a 16-yard TD and then Hoskins for a 14-yard score to make it 35-14.
Miamiกฏs Austin Boucher was 10-of-22 for 165 yards, including an 8-yard TD pass to Steve Marck midway through the first quarter. Essray Taliaferro answered for Marshall with a 1-yard TD run before the Thundering Herd took over through the air จC and on the ground.
Marshall finished with 304 rushing yards, paced by Steward Butler (17 carries, 107 yards) and Taliaferro (19 carries, 89 yards). Cato added 59 yards on the ground for the Thundering Herd, who had 34 first downs to only nine for the RedHawks.