HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Rakeem Cato threw three touchdown passes to rally Marshall in a 26-20 win over Southern Mississippi on Saturday in the Conference USA opener for both teams.
The Thundering Herd (1-1) trailed 17-3 with 5:30 left in the second quarter before Cato orchestrated three straight touchdown drives. His third straight score, a 17-yard pass to Aaron Dobson, gave Marshall a 24-17 lead with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter.
Cato finished with 275 yards and two interceptions on 27-of-42 passing.
Southern Miss (1-1) made it 26-20 on Danny Hrapmann's 28-yard field goal with 1:22 remaining and was driving for another possible score, but Austin Davis threw his third interception with 1 minute left.
Davis finished with 309 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-49 passing and broke Brett Favre's career passing mark. Davis, who needed 74 yards coming in, broke the record of 7,695 set from 1987-1990.
