HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- Heisman Trophy front-runner Lamar Jackson continued to produce eye-popping numbers in No. 3 Louisville's 59-28 win over Marshall on Saturday night at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
The super sophomore had 479 yards of total offense and accounted for seven touchdowns, bringing his season total to 25 touchdowns after first four games.
After a fairly slow start with just one touchdown in the first quarter, Jackson finished the game with 417 passing yards with five touchdowns and 12 carries for 62 yards and two rushing scores.
Louisville (4-0) started the third quarter like it ended the first half. After Marshall (1-2) was forced to punt on the opening drive, Jackson put Louisville ahead 42-7 by running in from 9 yards to cap a three-play, 49-yard scoring drive that lasted just 1:00.
The Cardinals tacked on a field goal and another touchdown to take a 52-7 lead before the starters were replaced and Marshall scored two touchdowns at the start of the fourth quarter.
Louisville coach Bobby Petrino put his first team offense back into the game, including Jackson, and the Cardinals tacked on another touchdown with 6:36 left.
Marshall scored a final touchdown and Louisville ran out the clock.
In the first half, Jackson passed for 284 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 37 yards and a touchdown to help Louisville build a 28-0 lead and a 35-7 halftime lead.
Louisville's high-powered attack came into the game averaging a nation's best 65.0 points per game, but the first quarter passed with just a lone touchdown, a 71-yard pass from Jackson to James Quick with 10:57 left.
The floodgates opened in the second quarter, however. Louisville scored on three straight drives to take a 28-0 lead with just over three minutes left before the half.
Marshall finally caught a break when Louisville's Jaire Alexander dropped a punt at the Cardinals' 14-yard line and the Herd recovered.
Marshall scored two plays later on a 16-yard pass from freshman Garet Morrell to Ryan Yurachek with 36 seconds left in the half.
After Marshall's first touchdown, the Cardinals marched down the field for a field for an answer with seconds left on the clock. An 8-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to Reggie Bonnafon capped a five-play, 75-yard drive in just 34 seconds.
NOTES: Lamar Jackson's 25 for the season. He has 12 rushing touchdowns and 13 passing. His rushing total of 62 yards was his lowest of the season. ... Marshall QB Chase Litton was declared out for the game early Saturday. He was replaced by his backup, true freshman Garet Morrell. ... Marshall had just 135 yards of total offense at the end of the third quarter. The Herd finished with nine penalties for 95 yards. ... Louisville WR James Quick caught four passes for 98 yards and a touchdown, Jamari Staples caught five passes for 94 yards and Cole Hikutini caught four passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns. ... Louisville RB Brandon Radcliff gained 131 yards on 19 carries with a touchdown. It was his eighth career 100-yard game and second of the season. ... The attendance of 40,592 was the second largest in school history, just over 500 shy of the largest crowd in school history for a game with West Virginia in 2010.
