Marshall running back Keion Davis slips a tackle attempt by South Florida defensive back Mekhi LaPointe to score a touchdown during the second half of the Gasparilla Bowl on Thursday in Tampa, Fla.TAMPA, Fla. – It was a family affair as Marshall ended its season with another bowl victory.
Isaiah Green completed 17 of 25 passes for 221 yards, cousin Keion Davis ran for two touchdowns and the Thundering Herd beat South Florida 38-20 Thursday night in the Gasparilla Bowl.
“It’s fun to get to play my senior year with my cousin, sharing the experience,” said Davis, who was named the game’s MVP.
Marshall, 6-0 in bowl games under head coach Doc Holliday, gained 503 yards of offense. The Herd (9-4) rushed for 282 yards and passed for 221.
“It was my first time contributing to a (bowl) win,” Green said. “It feels good to be able to show people that just because I’m a freshman doesn’t mean I can’t play this game like I’m not a freshman.”
Green also had a touchdown run in the first quarter, while Davis’s second touchdown – from 16 yards out – put the Herd ahead 38-20 with 6 1/2 minutes to play.
Davis had 94 yards on 14 carries, while Brenden Knox gained 93 on 12, all during the first half.
Knox left the game with a broken hand, giving Davis extended playing time. Davis entered with 308 rushing yards and one touchdown in eight games.
“Keion is a special player,” Holliday said. “He makes things happen every time he gets the opportunity to play.”
Blake Barnett, slowed by shoulder and ankle injuries, replaced Chris Oladokun for South Florida 10 minutes into the game and completed 11 of 23 passes for 212 yards. Barnett, a transfer from Arizona State who also started one game for Alabama in 2016, sat out two of the Bulls’ previous three games.
South Florida (7-6) lost the bowl game played on its home field to end the season by losing six in a row after a 7-0 start.
“We know this: There’s work that needs to be done in the program, and we’ve got to go get it done,” Bulls coach Charlie Strong said.
Green scored on an 10-yard dash and Anthony Anderson had an 1-yard touchdown run during a 37-second span as Marshall took a 14-0 lead with 4:43 left in the first. The second score was set up by Darius Hodge’s fumble recovery and 29-yard return after Barnett couldn’t handle a high snap.
After South Florida wide receiver Tyre McCants took a direct snap and threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Randall St. Felix, the Herd went up 21-7 during the final minute of the first on Knox’s 8-yard touchdown run.
St. Felix had six receptions for a school-bowl record 165 yards.
Marshall outscored its opponent 101-39 in first quarters this season.
Davis’s 5-yard run made it 28-7 with 90 seconds left in the second quarter.
South Florida got to 28-10 on Coby Weiss’s 22-yard field goal four seconds before halftime.
The Bulls settled for a 31-yard field goal by Weiss on a second-half-opening 14-play drive.
“We were in position to make some plays, and we didn’t make them,” Strong said. “We had our opportunities.”
Marshall countered with Justin Rohrwasser’s 28-yard field before Barnett connected on a 33-yard scoring pass with St. Felix that cut the Bulls’ deficit to 31-20 late in the third.