Rasheen Ali has big day on the ground to lead Marshall past Virginia Tech

Rasheen Ali rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries to lead Marshall to a 24-17 home win over Virginia Tech on Saturday.

Cam Fencher went 16 of 27 passing for 166 yards for the Thundering Herd (3-0).

Kyron Drones rushed for 75 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, and passed for 160 yards in defeat for Virginia Tech (1-3). Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 88 yard on nine carries to flank Drones for the Hokies.

Virginia Tech took the opening kickoff and scored first, taking a 7-0 lead with 11:59 left in the second quarter on a 31-yard touchdown run by Drones.

The score stayed that way until the second quarter, when Marshall tied the game at 7-7 with 14:50 left until halftime on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Fancher to DeMarcus Harris.

Following a 21-yard field goal by John Love that gave Virginia Tech a 10-7 lead with 11:47 left in the second quarter, Marshall drove the field and took a 14-10 lead with 9:10 remaining until halftime on a 56-yard touchdown run by Ali.

Rece Verhoff then made a 21-yard field goal with 2:55 left in the second quarter to give Marshall a 17-10 lead.

In the third quarter, pinned at its own 2-yard line, Marshall drove 98 yards in seven plays and took a 24-10 lead with 7:22 remaining in the third on a 1-yard touchdown run by Ali.

The big play of the drive was a 61-yard run by Ali to the Virginia Tech 18-yard line.

Virginia Tech drew closer in the fourth quarter, cutting its deficit to 24-17 with 7:14 remaining in the game on a 16-yard touchdown run by Drones.

Virginia Tech drove down to the Marshall 31-yard line in the final minute in its last attempt to tie the game, but the drive ended on downs.