Jorge Diaz Nicolas' field goal in final seconds lifts Marshall over Gardner-Webb 36-35

Jorge Diaz Nicolas kicked a 32-yard field goal with six seconds left and Marshall rallied to beat upset-minded Gardner-Webb 36-35ByThe Associated PressSeptember 26, 2026, 8:01 PMHUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Jorge Diaz Nicolas kicked a 32-yard field goal with six seconds left and Marshall rallied to beat upset-minded Gardner-Webb 36-35 on Saturday.Aidan Bonde missed a 27-yard field goal for Gardner-Webb and Marshall (3-1) took over with 1:57 remaining.Carlos Del Rio-Wilson passed to De’Andre Tamarez for a 27-yard gain on the final drive to help the Thundering Herd slip past the Runnin' Bulldogs (1-4) of the Championship Subdivision.Del Rio-Wilson completed 26 of 38 passes for a career-high 386 yards — with three touchdowns and an interception. Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw had seven receptions for 131 yards and two scores.Cole Pennington returned to haunt his former team with 298 yards and four touchdowns on 22-for-33 passing. Pennington played his first two seasons at Marshall where his dad Chad Pennington played quarterback before heading to the NFL.Pennington threw two touchdown passes to help the Bulldogs take a 14-10 first-quarter lead.Del Rio-Wilson had an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jo'Shon Barbie in the second quarter, but Ruben Tshilombo answered with a 36-yard scoop-and-score and Gardner-Webb led 21-17. Barbie's 5-yard touchdown and a short Nicolas field goal put the Herd up 27-21 at halftime.Pennington's 25-yard touchdown pass to Kory Jones gave the Bulldogs a 28-27 lead late in the third, and his 44-yarder to Giovanni Adopte pushed it to 35-27 with 9:24 left. Adopte had seven catches for 179 yards and two scores — both career highs.Popular ReadsDel Rio-Wilson and Turner-Bradshaw hooked up for a 34-yard score with 6:06 left to get Marshall within 35-33.Gardner-Webb: At Charleston Southern on Saturday.Marshall: At James Madison on Saturday.___Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here. Visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here.Sponsored Content by Taboola