HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP)Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 152 yards and four touchdowns as Marshall overcame an early deficit to down Division I-AA Hofstra 54-31 on Saturday.
Marshall (1-1) trailed 14-0 early in the first quarter but didn’t allow Hofstra to score another touchdown until the fourth quarter.
Bradshaw, who had 17 carries, scored three first-half touchdowns to vault Marshall to a 20-14 lead with 9:26 left in the second quarter. He added his fourth touchdown with 7:17 left in the third quarter.
Hofstra (1-1) pulled within three with a 21-yard field goal by Rob Zarrelli in the second quarter, but Marshall put the Pride away in the third quarter with a pair of touchdowns 37 seconds apart.
Cody Slate’s first career touchdown reception, a 13-yard pass from Bernie Morris, pushed Marshall’s lead to 10. Then, on Hofstra’s ensuing possession, Dennis Thornton sacked Anton Clarkson at the Pride 18, forcing a fumble picked up by Shavar Greer, who ran for another score. It was Greer’s first fumble recovery and touchdown.
Bradshaw became the first Marshall rusher to score four touchdowns in a game since Chris Parker did it against Delaware in the 1993 I-AA playoffs.
Morris completed 20 of 27 attempts for 153 yards and rushed for 151. It was the first time in Marshall history that two backs rushed for at least 150 yards each, and the first time a quarterback had gained more than 100 yards since 1978.
