Price’s late touchdown gives Marshall a 20-13 win over South Alabama

Judah Price scored on a five-yard run with 1:49 remaining, and Marshall answered South Alabama’s late tying touchdown to win 20-13 on Tuesday night in Huntington.

The Thundering Herd drove 75 yards in eight plays for the deciding score, then stopped the Jaguars on fourth down to secure their first Sun Belt victory of the season. Both teams finished the night 4-3 overall; Marshall improved to 1-2 in conference play, while South Alabama fell to 2-1.

It was a defensive turnaround for a Marshall team that entered allowing 447.3 yards per game, according to the Associated Press. The Herd held South Alabama to 326 yards and allowed just one touchdown.

Wilkins sets up the winner

South Alabama had tied it at 13 on PJ Martin’s 19-yard touchdown run with 4:38 left. That capped a 13-play, 80-yard possession and left Marshall needing an answer with less than five minutes remaining.

Khalil Wilkins supplied three consecutive gains of 19, 22 and 14 yards on the winning drive, moving the Herd to the South Alabama nine. After another four-yard Wilkins run, Price finished from the five.

The Jaguars began their final possession at their own 16 and reached the 38 before losing ground on a completion. Jared Hollins’ fourth-down pass fell incomplete with 39 seconds left, giving Marshall the ball back to finish the game.

Wilkins led the Herd with 69 rushing yards on eight carries. Price had 30 yards on 13 attempts, with his late touchdown providing the final margin.

Field goals give way to rushing scores

The teams were tied 6-6 at halftime. South Alabama’s Davis Little made field goals from 29 and 42 yards, while Jorge Diaz Nicolas connected from 47 and 48 for Marshall.

Zion Turner broke that tie with a three-yard touchdown run at 3:25 of the third quarter. Turner completed 21 of 33 passes for 181 yards without an interception and added 45 yards rushing. Toby Payne was his leading receiver with seven catches for 69 yards.

Marshall finished with 328 total yards, only two more than South Alabama, and committed no turnovers. The Jaguars converted four of 18 third downs but kept several possessions alive by making five of six fourth-down attempts.

Hollins finished 12 of 33 for 148 yards and an interception. Keenan Phillips led South Alabama with 70 rushing yards; Martin added 47. Brendan Jenkins caught four passes for 75 yards.

Both teams next play October 31. Marshall travels to Old Dominion, while South Alabama hosts Louisiana Tech.