HUNTINGTON, W.Va – The kick was just bound to go in.
Already making two in a row with ease, when Marshall placekicker Justin Rohrwasser lined back up for the third go-around at the attempt, nearly everyone at Joan C. Edwards Stadium believed it would go directly through the uprights.
It did exactly that.
The kicker Rohrwasser – even when Western Kentucky tried to ice him two straight times – stayed calm, went through the same routine all three times and kicked an incredible 53-yard field goal to lift Marshall to a 26-23 walk-off win over the Hilltoppers on Saturday evening in Huntington.
WKU (5-3 overall, 4-1 Conference USA) committed two early turnovers and dug itself into a 17-0 hole before later trailing 23-7. The Toppers reeled off 16 straight points to tie it at 23-all, but the Thundering Herd (5-3, 3-1) delivered the final punch with Rohrwasser’s kick to come out on top and snap Western’s four-game win streak.
The Tops will look to bounce back Saturday when they host Florida Atlantic at 3 p.m. at Houchens-Smith Stadium.
WKU was driving downfield on its opening drive, but the series was soon halted as the Hilltoppers attempted a trick play and wide receiver Jacquez Sloan threw an interception to Marshall's Kereon Merrell to give the Thundering Herd possession at their own 42.
Marshall took advantage of Western's miscue and assembled a six-play, 58-yard drive in 2:54 to get on the board first. After running back Brenden Knox ran for a gain of 11 yards, quarterback Isaiah Green connected with tight end Armani Levias for a 25-yard touchdown to put the Herd up 7-0 at the 10:42 mark of the first.
After WKU quarterback Ty Storey was sacked and fumbled on the Hilltoppers' second drive, Merrell recovered it and gave the ball back to MU at its own 44. The Herd needed just three plays to march 56 yards and score on a four-yard TD run by Green and make it 14-0 at the 6:56 mark.
WKU had a chance to get on the board with a field goal, but Cory Munson's 32-yard attempt went wide left and MU took over. The Herd then covered 51 yards with 11 plays in 5:37 and highlighted the series with a 46-yard field goal by Rohrwasser.
Rohrwasser's successful attempt increased WKU's deficit to 17-0 at the 13:30 mark of the second.
The Toppers finally found an answer late in the quarter.
Covering 61 yards with seven plays, running back Gaej Walker capped the series with a 33-yard TD run. Walker took the handoff from Storey and broke loose up the middle and made his way into the right corner of the end zone to cut WKU's deficit to 17-7 at the 4:14 mark.
Rohrwasser sent another kick through the uprights - this one coming from 31 yards out - just before the end of the half to send Marshall into the break with a 20-7 lead.
Rohrwasser remained hot in the second half, kicking - and making - a 43-yarder at the 6:23 mark of the third quarter to push the Thundering Herd's advantage to 23-7.
Western didn't give up.
The Hilltoppers responded late in the period with a lengthy drive to cut their deficit down. Covering 75 yards with 10 plays in 5:38, WKU capped the series with a one-yard keeper by Storey. The Tops lined up and went for the two-point conversion, but a false start penalty negated the play and the Tops had to attempt the PAT.
Munson's kick was no good, and WKU trailed 23-13 entering the fourth.
Walker ran for a gain of 21 yards to give Western a first down at the MU 9, but Storey then threw three straight incompletions and it had to attempt a 27-yard field goal. Munson's kick sailed through and brought the Toppers within 23-16 with 12:10 remaining.
Walker's second score of the night - this one from 16 yards out - pushed WKU's unanswered points tally to 16 and evened the scoreboard at 23-23 with 6:19 left. Walker took the handoff and sprinted right up the middle before crossing the pylon to tie it.
After WKU had to punt, Marshall took over at its own 13 and ended up getting down to the WKU 36. After not being able to convert on fourth down, the Herd lined up for a 53-yard field goal. Helton called the pair of timeouts to try and ice Rohrwasser, but he made three-in-a-row – including the game-winner – to send the Toppers back to Bowling Green with a loss.
Storey completed 31-of-43 passes for 292 yards and an interception, while wide receiver Lucky Jackson caught a career-high 16 passes for a career-high 168 yards. Walker finished with 102 yards and two scores.
Green went 20-of-31 for 230 yards and a TD for the Herd. Wide receiver Broc Thompson made three receptions for 91 yards, Lewis had 77 yards and a score on 10 catches and Knox tallied 84 yards on 19 carries.
