HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Rakeem Cato threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Marshall beat Rhode Island 48-7 on Saturday.

Cato was 15 of 29 and 267 yards passing. He also led his team on the ground with 143 yards on nine carries.

Devon Johnson opened the scoring for the Thundering Herd (2-0) with a 12-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. He finished with 137 yards on 14 carries.

Leading 17-0 at the break, Marshall wasted no time extending its third-quarter advantage to 38 on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Cato to Angelo Jean-Lewis, followed by two Steward Butler rushing touchdowns.

The Rams (0-1) finally scored early in the fourth on a 3-yard pass from Mack Lowrie to Charlie McKeeman.

But the Thundering Herd followed with a 63-yard touchdown run by Cato on the team’s next possession and a field goal by Justin Haig with 4 minutes to play.

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