HUNTINGTON — Excusing itself from the weekly college football grind, Marshall University shifted from the norm Thursday afternoon.

Instead of practice, the Thundering Herd hosted Hargrave Military Academy for a sub-varsity matchup at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. A Marshall roster of 28 players trailed 13-0 at halftime and lost by the same margin before approximately 100 on-lookers.

Hargrave showed off a loaded squad, including 11 prospects who have committed to NCAA Division I-A programs and numerous players who will commit during recruiting season. Among those was Trevor Black, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound outside linebacker, who will join the Thundering Herd in January.

Black made two tackles, including one behind the line of scrimmage, and broke up a pass in Thursday’s shutout. He qualified academically on Wednesday, will enroll in January and participate in spring practice.

Black stood out on the field Thursday afternoon, quarterbacking the defense, but reserved his words afterward.

“I love the weight room, the stadium, the environment,” Black said. “It’s great here.

“My pads talk more than I do. If I can come in here and help out the team (immediately) that’s what I want to do.”

Veteran Hargrave head coach Ron Prunty hardly lacked words concerning his defensive leader. Prunty coached Marshall’s leading receiver, tight end Cody Slate, and its top tackler, linebacker Mario Harvey, at the Virginia-based military academy.

“Trevor Black is another one of those great ones,” Prunty said. “He’s tall. He’s rangy. He can run. He’s long. He’s going to be another one of the great ones.

“He’s going to be a great player. I can’t say how excited I am about him. Marshall’s getting a great player in Trevor Black. It just goes to show what kind of players Marshall’s bringing in.

“(Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder) is bringing in playmaking players now and that’s going to pay off in the future.

“He qualified yesterday and the Herd nation needs to be happy. Just like Mario Harvey and Cody Slate, there won’t be any dropoff. If he listens to everything coach Snyder says, he’s going to have a great career here.”

While Black and fellow defenders blanked an undermanned Marshall offense — linebacker Howard King and defensive tackle Brandon Bullock played along the offensive line — Hargrave secured victory on a pair of deep touchdown passes. Dolapo Macarthy connected from 81 yards to Sean Farr and 67 yards to West Virginia University verbal commitment Deon Long for scores in the first half.

Marshall quarterback Mark Cann was limited to 50 yards on seven-of-19 passing and was intercepted three times. Safety Ross Madison and cornerback Ishmael Banks, who well could join Black at Marshall in January, collected two of the pickoffs.

 

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