ATHENS, Ga. — The No. 5-ranked Georgia Bulldogs were as advertised on Saturday, smothering Marshall 45-7 with a defense that only relented seven first downs in the Thundering Herd's first game under coach Tony Gibson.
“Congratulations to Georgia. They’re a top-five team for a reason,†Gibson said. “We just couldn’t get anything rolling offensively. We struggled.â€
JacQai Long was named Marshall's game-time starter at quarterback.Â
Performing before 93,033 fans and a multi-million-dollar defense destined for Sundays, Long had just 7 yards of offense at halftime and finished 3 for 11 passing with 19 yards and a negative rushing total.
As expected, three Herd quarterbacks saw action. Carlos Del Rio-Wilson faced the flame second and totaled 10 yards on 2-for-3 passing, with 4 rushing yards on three carries. Del Rio-Wilson had one play in which he broke half a dozen tackles and picked up a first down, but it was brought back by one of Marshall's three illegal procedure penalties.
“I thought JacQai, early on, was a little nervous,†Gibson said. “He’s in his first start, and we did it to him at Georgia. He’s been our best quarterback through camp. I like where he’s at. Carlos, we tried to get him in to get some run game going at quarterback to mix it up a little bit. We killed ourselves with a few penalties.â€
Zion Turner had the best showing, entering in the fourth quarter against Georgia reserves. He totaled 100 yards on 6-for-7 passing and 19 rushing yards on two carries. In his opening drive, he connected on two explosive passing plays before Jo’Shon Barbie's 1-yard rushing touchdown provided Marshall’s lone score.
“Zion came in in the fourth quarter and brought more energy to us. We finally crossed the 50-yard line and punched one in with a couple of really good throws," Gibson said. "We have to go back and evaluate who our guy will be next week.â€
Marshall had nine ballcarriers. Justin Williams-Thomas led them with 24 yards. Barbie had 14 and the score.
A 44-yard strike from Turner to Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw, son of Ahmad Bradshaw, highlighted the day. He totaled 58 yards on three receptions. Antonio Harmon had one catch for 34 yards, a back-shoulder fade from Turner.
With all of these numbers in mind, the expectation for fans was to see who the biggest options are. Floyd Lacey had five targets. Turner-Bradshaw and Adrian Norton had three each. Antwan Roberts had six carries.
Gunner Stockton led Georgia with 190 passing yards and two touchdowns. He ran for 73 yards and two scores as well. Georgia’s offense totaled 488 yards to Marshall’s 207 and had 26 first downs.
“I thought our defense fought really well in the second quarter. They made some plays and had some opportunities to get off the field,†Gibson said. “Unfortunately, we gave up two big runs to the quarterback. That was disappointing.â€
The Bulldogs also went 3 for 3 on fourth down and had six third-down conversions.
Until the scoring drive from Turner in the fourth quarter, the Herd did not have a drive that lasted longer than five plays. Marshall went three-and-out in six of its first seven drives.
“They’re an impressive group. It’s an SEC (defensive) front,†Gibson said. “I hope we don’t have to face another front like that all year long. If that’s in the Sun Belt, we’re in trouble. Those guys up front are really good. Their linebackers are good players, and they have corners with experience. They have a better group.
“Our guys couldn’t hang.â€
Georgia scored touchdowns on three of its first four drives. The first was a 17-yard rushing score from Dwight Phillips. It capped an eight-play, 70-yard drive that Cam Smith, Marshall's leading tackler with seven solos, a forced fumble and the Herd's only tackle for loss, called the early punch to see how the fight would go.
“Once we got situated, I felt like we started playing together,†Smith said. “We started to slow them down a little bit. We started to get off the field. We struggled in the first quarter.â€
But Stockton’s two rushing touchdowns on option runs followed. On both, Gibson said there was a blown assignment.
“He’s a good runner. He’s smart. We blew it both times. We should have had someone on the quarterback. We had bad eyes,†Gibson said. “When that happens, you give up a big play.â€
Georgia led 21-0 by the 9:07 mark of the second quarter. One of those drives was set up after a punt from Marshall's Nathan Totten, who kicked well with an average of 45 yards per boot, was blocked.
“The blocked punt took a lot of air out of us,†Gibson said.
In the second quarter, Marshall got its legs by forcing three punts in four drives and holding Georgia to a field goal to close the half, trailing 24-0. It gave up that field goal in part due to a fumble recovery that was overturned.
“I think the speed of the game at the start rattled us a bit. Once we dialed in, our guys did a really good job,†Gibson said. “The second quarter, we played really well. Unfortunately, we gave up the field goal, but our guys are resilient.â€
Opening the third quarter, Georgia scored on a 47-yard pass that looked to be a 5-yard check to Zachariah Branch. With no one pressing and just one defensive player in zone coverage, he used his speed to take a downfield block and score once more to lead 31-0.
Stockton led a final scoring drive before Georgia's starters were pulled, up 38-0. Barbie’s touchdown capped the scoring with Marshall's best look, seven plays for 84 yards in less than four minutes.
“I feel like Zion came in and led the offense. He came in and did exactly what he had to do,†Barbie said. “He took exactly what they were giving us. Everybody did what they were supposed to in that moment, and we scored.â€
Marshall has its first home game under Gibson next week as it will host Missouri State. The Bears opened with USC and will make the cross-country commute in their second-ever game in Division I FBS.
“I’ll take this one on me. Our staff, we have to do a better job. We have to get our guys better prepared,†Gibson said. “That was the first of many. I promise you, Herd Nation, that we’ll be better next week.â€
