MARSHALL DEFEATS USF, 38-20, IN 2018 BAD BOY MOWERS GASPARILLA BOWL
TAMPA, Fla. (December 2, 2018) – Most Valuable Player Keion Davis rushed for a game-high 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Marshall Thundering Herd (9-4, 6-2 C-USA) to a 38-20 victory over the USF Bulls (7-6, 3-4 AAC) in the 11th annual Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl at Raymond James Stadium.
Davis did almost all of his damage in the second half, picking up 82 of his 94 yards on just nine carries. His 16-yard touchdown run with 6:24 left in the fourth quarter gave the Herd its final 18-point margin and secured Marshall’s record third win in three Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl appearances. Marshall also won in 2011 (20-10 over FIU) and in 2015 (16-10 over UConn).
Marshall never trailed, jumping out to a 14-0 lead less than 11 minutes into the game on the strength of short scoring runs by quarterback Isaiah Green and running back Anthony Anderson. Green’s score capped a seven-play, 81-yard drive and Anderson’s plunge followed a fumble recovery and return of 29 yards to the USF 1-yard line by Marshall’s Darius Hodge.
USF cut the lead in half at the 2:43 mark of the second quarter thanks to a 38-yard scoring pass from slotback/wildcat Tyre McCants who found Randall St. Felix open in the end zone.
The Bulls were unable to get any closer in the game as Marshall extended its lead to 28-7 late in the second quarter and carried a 28-10 lead into halftime.
St. Felix highlighted the USF offensive effort collecting a Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl-record 165 receiving yards on just six catches. St. Felix added his second touchdown reception of the night on a 33-yard connection with quarterback Blake Barnett late in the third quarter which narrowed Marshall’s lead to 31-20.
Marshall’s balanced offensive attack finished with 503 total yards — 282 rushing and 221 passing. The Herd’s defense limited USF to 360 total yards and just 92 on the ground. Marshall did not allow an opposing rusher to reach 100 yards in any game during the 2018 season and the streak now has reached 14 games.
SCORING SUMMARY
First Quarter
Marshall: Isaiah Green 10-yard rush (Justin Rohrwasser kick) – 5:20 (7 plays, 81 yards, 3:41) — 7-0
Marshall: Anthony Anderson 1-yard rush (Justin Rohrwasser kick) – 4:43 (1 play, 1 yard, 0:05) — 14-0
USF: Randall St. Felix 38-yard pass from Tyre McCants (Coby Weiss kick) – 2:43 (6 plays, 75 yards, 2:00) — 14-7
Marshall: Brenden Knox 8-yard rush (Justin Rohrwasser kick) – 0:25 (5 plays, 80 yards, 2:18) — 21-7
Second Quarter
Marshall: Keion Davis 5-yard rush (Justin Rohrwasser kick) – 1:30 (3 plays, 17 yards, 1:10) — 28-7
USF: Coby Weiss 22-yard field goal – 0:04 (10 plays, 69 yards) — 28-10
Third Quarter
USF: Coby Weiss 31-yard field goal – 9:13 (14 plays, 62 yards, 5:47) — 28-13
Marshall: Justin Rohrwasser 28-yard field goal – 5:19 (9 plays, 54 yards, 3:54) — 31-13
USF: Randall St. Felix 33-yard pass from Blake Barnett (Coby Weiss kick) – 3:16 (4 plays, 72 yards, 2:03) — 31-20
Fourth Quarter
Marshall: Keion Davis 16-yard rush (Justin Rohrwasser kick) – 6:24 (11 plays, 64 yards, 5:47) — 38-20