The Marshall Thundering Herd got off to a great start to their 2020 season last weekend, trouncing Eastern Kentucky 59-0.

The Colonels are only an FCS squad, though, and Saturday’s home game against No. 23 Appalachian State was sure to be a much bigger challenge.

Instead, Appalachian State showed just how much it misses last year’s coach Eli Drinkwitz and his staff after Drinkwitz was hired at Mizzou. The Mountaineers’ offense struggled all day and ended up losing to the Thundering Herd 17-7.

A key play took place early in the fourth quarter. Just when it looked like Appalachian State was going to cut Marshall’s lead to 3 points, a Thundering Herd defender forced this spectacular fumble:

Some sloppy play ensued for the rest of the fourth quarter (including a missed 31-yard field goal by the Mountaineers after a Marshall fumble), but the Thundering Herd escaped with the upset win.

This is the second week in a row the No. 23 team in the country has lost. Last week, Louisiana knocked off No. 23 Iowa State. Will Marshall continue its hot streak moving forward? The Herd take on Western Kentucky on Oct. 10 after an Oct. 3 game against Rice was postponed due to Rice delaying its season while waiting for rapid testing.