Box Score HUNTINGTON, W. Va. - The Stony Brook football team opened up their 2024 season this evening with FBS foe Marshall University, falling to the Herd 45-3 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium in West Virginia.

The Seawolves (0-1, 0-0 CAA) led the time of possession and ran more plays than the Herd, but were unable to capitalize as the Herd finished with a 549-252 advantage in total yards.

The quarterback duo of Tyler Knoop and Malachi Marshall made their first career appearances for Stony Brook and combined for 158 yards through the air. Knoop got the start for the Seawolves and went 8-of-13 with 62 passing yards, including a 32-yard highlight-play by Jayce Freeman. Marshall went 10-of-20 for 96 yards with an interception and 11 carries.

Freeman led the receiver room by tallying a team-high 52 yards on two catches. West Virginia native Chance Knox made his first career appearance with the Seawolves and had a team-best five receptions. RJ Lamarre and Cole Bunicci each had 25 receiving yards, respectively.

Roland Dempster and Brandon Boria split the majority of the carries, with Dempster gaining 37 yards on 13 carries while Boria gained a career-best 22 yards on eight attempts on the ground. Anthony Ferrelli finished with a career-high 14 tackles on the defensive side for Stony Brook, four of them solo, and Chayce Chalmers also tallied a career-best 10 tackles, four of them solo as well. Rudy Silvera made his Stony Brook debut this evening and led the team with six solo tackles, finishing with 10 total. Clarens Legagneur recorded seven tackles, while AJ Roberts finished his night with six. Tyson McCloud recorded the first sack of the season for the Seawolves.

On special teams, Clayton Taylor hit nine punts for 392 yards, averaging 43.6 yards per kick and putting two punts inside the 20. Enda Kirby gave the Seawolves three points with a 39-yard field goal in the third quarter. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Stony Brook received the ball to open the game and drove the ball 43 yards down the field, highlighted by a 32-yard pass from Tyler Knoop to Jayce Freeman. The Seawolves were stopped on fourth down at the Herd 32-yard line after an incomplete pass. 
• After the Seawolves held the Herd to a punt on their first two drives, Marshall struck first on an 80-yard rushing touchdown by AJ Turner following a one-hour-and-thirty-four-minute delay due to severe weather in the area.
• The Stony Brook defense held strong at their own 39-yard line to force a punt with 13:02 in the second quarter.
• Following the punt by the Herd, the Seawolves started their drive on their own 1-yard line. The squad went 10 plays for 37 yards, rushing for 29 yards, but was forced to punt with 8:28 remaining in the second quarter.
• Marshall added a field goal and touchdown in the final 4:17 of the half to carry a 17-0 lead into the break.
• Following the break, the Herd kept the pressure on, scoring on their first possession of the half on a 28-yard reception by Elijah Metcalf.
• The Seawolves responded back, forcing a three-and-out by Marshall on its next possession. Stony Brook got their first points of the season after a 12-play drive that led to a 39-yard field goal by Enda Kirby.
• The Seawolves would force a missed field goal with 4:05 left in the third quarter following a 10-play drive by the Herd.
• Marshall opened the fourth quarter with a 67-yard touchdown reception by Christian Fitzpatrick to take a 31-3 lead.
• The Herd would go on to score touchdowns in their final two drives to secure the 45-3 victory over Stony Brook.

GAME NOTES

• Anthony Ferrelli finished with a team and career-high 14 tackles against Marshall. He eclipsed his previous high of eight against Fordham on Oct. 14, 2023.
• Chalmers also had a career-high 10 tackles tonight, passing his previous high of eight set against Fordham on Oct. 14, 2023.
• In his first career start for Stony Brook, Tyson McCloud recorded the first sack of the season for the Seawolves.
• Freeman now has had at least 50 reception yards in his last three games, dating back to last season, after tallying a team-high 58 yards tonight.
• The made 39-yard field goal marked the longest of Enda Kirby's career.
• The Seawolves led in time of possession after possessing the ball for 35:38 compared to Marshall's 24:22.
• Stony Brook held Marshall to 0-for-4 on third down in the first half.
• The Seawolves ran 80 plays compared to the 68 plays by the Herd.
• Stony Brook played its second-ever game against a Sun Belt Conference opponent.
• The match-up continued Stony Brook's streak of playing an FBS opponent in every full season since 2010.
• Saturday was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
"Overall I thought we started strong. I thought we came out with the right mindset. I thought we played hard, we played physical. I like the way our defense played, I thought they wore down as the game went. We were way better on defense than we have been in the past. They had some guys that can run and make plays, that showed up at times," head coach Billy Cosh said. "Offensively, there were moments but we've got to be a little more consistent. I thought Malachi did a nice job bringing us a spark. He's young and he's going to be a really good player. I like our outfit, I like our team."

UP NEXT
Stony Brook returns home for its 2024 home opener against Stonehill on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m. at LaValle Stadium.

To purchase season, single game, mini plans or group tickets, click here or call 631-632-WOLF (9653) or email seawolvestickets@stonybrook.edu.

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