A Marshall football record from 1932 was tied on Saturday when three quarterbacks each threw for a touchdown in the same game.
A Marshall football record from 1932 was tied on Saturday when three quarterbacks each threw for a touchdown in the same game. However, this has not made it easier for coach Charles Huff to determine the Thundering Herd’s starting quarterback moving forward.
After struggling initially with five misses on his first seven attempts, Stone Earle finished strong, compleBrayting eight of his last nine passes for two touchdowns and 97 yards against Stony Brook. lon Braxton then stepped in, completing 7 of 11 passes for two scores, while Cole Pennington added his first career touchdown pass.
This situation complicates the decision for the upcoming game against Virginia Tech, but Braxton, one of the two transfers in the mix, assured that whoever is chosen will be prepared.
“It reflects how well we’ve been coached, and there’s no favoritism in our room,” Braxton said. “[Offensive coordinator Seth] Doege prepares us all equally.”
Huff explained that the plan was to have Earle play the first half and Braxton the second, but a weather delay extended Earle’s playtime. This may place Pennington third on the depth chart, where the candidates are still listed with “or” between their names. Pennington, who started three games last season, was also seen warming up as the holder for placekicks, a role typically not filled by the starting quarterback.
“Their stats are nearly identical,” Huff remarked, maintaining his discreet approach to the quarterback competition.
“Stone had to go in first without knowing what coverage they’d use,” he noted. “Braylon was able to study the iPad during the delay and adjust, so he performed well when he got in, and Cole had the same opportunity.”
Huff also mentioned that the offense was operating on a limited playbook against Stony Brook, using only about six plays to keep things simple while adjusting to a new system.
“There will come a time when we need to choose a starter and support them,” Huff said. “For now, we have three capable quarterbacks, similar to our running back situation.”
Despite not naming a starter for Saturday’s matchup against Virginia Tech, Huff expressed confidence in all three quarterbacks, just as he felt after fall camp.
“We have three capable quarterbacks,” he reiterated.
As the Herd prepares for the Hokies, one thing is clear: the competition among the quarterbacks will continue to elevate everyone’s performance until a starter is decided.
“Competition brings out the best in all of us, and it’s great to grow together as players and people,” Earle said. “It’s been a fun couple of months since I arrived.”
