West Virginia erupted for 42-second half points to beat Marshall 48-to-23 today in the Friends of Coal Bowl in Huntington.

Marshall led 16-to-13 midway through the third quarter, but Pat White and Steve Slaton eventually wore down Marshall.

White ran for 125 yards and a touchdown and threw for two scores and Slaton ran for 146 yards and two more scores.

Bernard Morris twice staked Marshall to the lead, but eventually the Thundering Herd wore down on both sides of the ball.

Darius Reynaud caught three passes on West Virginia's opening drive of the second half. He took a quick pass from White, broke two tackles and scored on a 23-yard play that tied the score at 13.

White's 20-yard scoring run put the Mountaineers ahead to stay, 20-16.

West Virginia's Ryan Mundy then recovered a fumble at midfield and White made Marshall pay with a 24-yard pass and a ten-yard run to set up Slaton's one-yard score.

Marshall managed one final burst. Cody Slate's 42-yard touchdown pass from Morris cut Marshall's deficit to 27-to-23 late in the third.

The win gives WVU a record of 2-and-0.

The defeat is the worst home-field loss for the Thundering Herd
since 1991.