Fancher tallies 3 scores as Marshall downs Georgia Southern, 23-10

STATESBORO, Georgia — The Marshall Thundering Herd, behind Cam Fancher's 274 yards through the air and three total scores, defeated the Georgia Southern Eagles 23-10 on Saturday at Paulson Stadium.

The Herd (7-4, 4-3 Sun Belt) offense wasted little time finding the end zone to being the game. On the fourth play of the game, Fancher connected with receiver E.J. Horton for a 65-yard touchdown strike to give the Herd a quick 6-0 lead.

Georgia Southern (5-6, 2-5 Sun Belt) answered with a 46-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3 with 4:31 remaining in the opening quarter.

The Herd offense would turn up the intensity in the second quarter, as Fancher hit Shadeed Ahmed for a 33-yard touchdown pass to finish off a seven-play, 64 yard drive to extend Marshall's lead to 13-3.

Damion Barber, Jr. would later recover a fumble and set the table for Fancher to lead the Herd into the end zone for a third time in the opening half.

The Herd signal caller dashed his way into the end zone from 19-yards out to give Marshall the 20-3 lead.

Georgia Southern would add a late score when quarterback Kyle Vantrease tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to Khaleb Hood to make the score 20-10 in favor of the Herd at halftime.

Marshall's defense would shut down the Eagles in the second half, allowing no points and just 138 total yards for the remainder of the game.

Trailing 23-10 and with the ball at the Herd 26, Vantrease would get picked off by junior linebacker Eli Neal picked off with exactly 11 minutes remaining in the game. Marshall would play keep away from that point on, holding the ball for the next 10:49 to salt the game away for the win.

The victory was the Herd's seventh of the year to officially make them bowl eligible. Marshall was forced to schedule two FCS opponents due to their move to the Sun Belt Conference this season and only one of those wins counted towards bowl eligibility.

Marshall finishes out the 2022 season next Saturday, November 26, as they host the Georgia State Panthers on Senior Day. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.

Marshall 6 14 3 0 = 23

Ga Southern 3 7 0 0 = 10

First Quarter

MARSH—EJ Horton 65 pass from Cam Fancher (kick failed), 13:39.

GASO—Alex Raynor 46 field goal, 4:31.

Second Quarter

MARSH—Shadeed Ahmed 33 pass from Cam Fancher (Rece Verhoff kick), 9:31.

MARSH-Cam Fancher 19 run (Rece Verhoff kick), 7:04.

GASO—Khaleb Hood 27 pass from Kyle Vantrease (Alex Raynor kick), 2:16.

Third Quarter

MARSH—Rece Verhoff 36 yd field goal, 7:40.