HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Making his first career start A.J. Graham lead the Herd to three four scoring drives to beat Rice 24-20 Saturday.

Graham took advantage of the starting opportunity with 99 yards passing, 129 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

Both of the redshirt sophomore's rushing scores came in the first half to give the Herd a 14-0 lead. Marshall's defense allowed two Rice field goals in the second quarter but Tyler Warner answered with a 45-yard field goal of his own to give the Herd a 17-6 halftime lead.

Rice scored 14 unanswered points in the second half to take a 20-17 lead late into the fourth quarter.

With 1:49 on the clock Marshall's Tron Martinez scored from the four yard-line for the go ahead touchdown.

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Tron Martinez scored on a 4-yard run
with 1:48 to play to lift Marshall to a 24-20 win over Rice on
Saturday.

Marshall (3-4, 2-1 Conference USA) trailed 20-17 when it
recovered a Rice fumble at the Owls' 23-yard-line with 3:31
remaining in the game. Six plays later, Martinez scored the
game-winning touchdown. A.J. Graham rushed for 129 yards and two
touchdowns as the Thundering Herd gained 217 yards on the ground.

It was Marshall's second straight win over Rice.

Sam McDuffie gave Rice (2-4, 1-2) its only lead of the game,
20-17, on a 4-yard run with 4:08 to play in the third quarter.

Trouble converting on third downs and difficulty scoring
touchdowns in the red zone hampered the Owls. Rice was only 2 of 12 on third down conversions, and settled for field goals on two of
its three trips inside the Marshall 20-yard line.