Earle's 4th-quarter TD pass to Fitzpatrick sends Marshall to 27-20 win over Western Michigan

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Stone Earle threw three touchdown passes, including a tiebreaking toss in the fourth quarter, and Marshall beat Western Michigan 27-20 on Saturday.

Earle hit Christian Fitzpartrick down the left side for a 34-yard touchdown with 7:39 remaining to take the lead. The touchdown came after Jaden Yates recovered a fumble at the Marshall 30 and then the Thundering Herd (2-2) advanced 36 yards on two A.J. Turner rushes.

Western Michigan (1-3) took the next seven minutes to drive down the field and reached the Marshall 5 with a third-and-1. But Jaden Nixon was dropped for a 2-yard loss and Hayden Wolff overthrew a receiver in the back of the end zone.

The Thundering Herd (2-2) had a 17-3 halftime lead before Western Michigan rallied with two third-quarter touchdowns and a field goal early in the fourth to tie it.

Earle finished 15 of 25 for 177 yards passing. Turner had 124 yards rushing on nine carries.

Wolff threw for 126 yards and one TD for the Broncos. Nixon rushed for 146 yards and a score on 23 carries.