Cole Pennington, son of ex-NFL first-rounder Chad Pennington, mirrored his father's style in his college debut, leading Marshall to a 38-33 win against Georgia Southern on Saturday.
The redshirt freshman quarterback QB propelled his team to victory for the first time since September, ending a five-game skid. Pennington threw for 201 passing yards with a 75% completion rate. Wide receiver DeMarcus Harris secured four receptions for 147 yards, while Rasheen Ali ran 24 times for 169 yards, contributing three touchdowns to the game.
"Really proud of this team and how they came out today," Pennington said after the game. "We played until the final whistle and played our hearts out. Proud of this team and how they fought and clawed throughout the game."
The win occurred on the anniversary of Southern Airways Flight 932, which claimed 75 lives, including Marshall "Thundering Herd" football players and coaches, and held immense emotional significance for the city of Huntington. Before the kickgame, the team dedicated the game to the memory of "the 75."
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"I'm really proud of their competitive spirit, and I am really proud of their effort," Marshall Football coach Charles Huff said. "Hopefully, the '75′ in Heaven are smiling today, and I hope that tailgate for the '75′ Herd members was pleased with how we played."
Marshall surpassed its combined point total from the last three matches. The victory brought the Herd within one win of reaching bowl eligibility, with two games remaining in the season. Next week, they face a road game against South Alabama, followed by the home finale on Nov. 25 against Arkansas State.
Cole Pennington was a three-star prospect in the Class of 2022, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 212 pounds. He chose his father's alma mater over four other scholarship offers from Division I FCS schools. His father, Chad, had a record-breaking collegiate career at Marshall with the second-most passing yards and touchdowns in program history, and played with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins. He actively participates in his son's football journey and advises Cole before games. Chad emphasized the importance of leadership before facing Georgia Southern.
Chad Pennington is the only player to secure the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in two circumstances, earning the honor in 2006 and 2008. Known for his accuracy, Pennington led the league twice in completion percentage and once in passer rating. His impact was instrumental in securing division titles for the Jets in 2002 and the Dolphins in 2008, marking the most recent division championships for both franchises.
Chad made history in the NFL on Nov. 16, 2003, by throwing the 47th "Perfect Game" against the Indianapolis Colts. In the NFL, a quarterback's highest official rating is a "perfect passer rating," which is capped at 158.3. To qualify for this rating, a QB must attempt at least ten passes, maintain zero interceptions, achieve a minimum completion percentage of 77.5%, have at least 11.875% of their passes result in touchdowns, and average at least 12.5 yards per attempt.
