Western Kentucky running back Quinton Baker (left) breaks a tackle attempt Nov. 26 by Marshall defensive back Terry Richardson during the Hilltoppers' 60-6 win in Huntington, W. Va. The teams will meet again Nov. 11 in Huntington.

Editor’s Note: This is Part 10 of a 12-part series previewing Western Kentucky’s 2017 football opponents.

IRVING, Texas – The Thundering Herd thundered over the edge of a cliff in 2016.

Marshall won 33 games from 2013-15, including a 13-1 campaign in ’14 that featured a Conference USA championship.

But then out of nowhere came a 3-9 season last year from coach Doc Holliday’s squad. The Herd finished 80th nationally in points per game (26.4), 107th in points per game allowed (35.3), 115th in yards per play (5.04) and 111th in yards per play allowed (6.35).

Marshall’s season ended in November with a 60-6 pasting from Western Kentucky on Thanksgiving weekend.

The Hilltoppers’ Kylen Towner took the opening kickoff back 94 yards for a touchdown. That started a blowout that sealed WKU’s East Division title and put a final stamp on the Thundering Herd’s worst season since also going 3-9 in 2007.

Marshall and WKU will meet again this season, Nov. 11 in Huntington, W.Va., in a game broadcast by BeIN Sports.

Holliday said last month he feels confident that the program has identified its problem areas from last year and tried to rectify those situations.

“We won 33 games in three years prior to that and won a championship because it starts with playing great defense,” Holliday told the Daily News at Conference USA Media Days. “We have to get back to doing that. We had the best defense in the league for about three years.

“We’ve got to get back to being that team defensively, but there’s no doubt offensively you’ve got to score some points as well. Hopefully with the addition to what we’ve got and if the guys on campus have gotten a lot better, then we’ll be fine.”

Holliday identified running back and wide receiver as two positions where Marshall needed to improve.

The program brought in three new running backs in Trey Rodriguez, Tyler King and Brenden Knox.

Miami (Fla.) transfer Tyre Brady and four-star recruit Darian Owens, a former UCLA commit, will bring athleticism to the Herd’s wide receiving corps.

Tight end Ryan Yurachek has caught a pass in 29 straight games. He had 28 catches for 298 yards and five touchdowns in 2016 and is a ’17 Preseason All-C-USA selection.

Quarterback Chase Litton is back for his junior season. He completed 62.3 percent of his passes last year for 261.2 yards per game with 24 TDs against nine interceptions.

Holliday said Litton gained 30 pounds this offseason, an effort to improve his sturdiness after the QB missed two games last year.

“The quarterback position is such an intangible position,” Holliday said. “He went to the Manning camp and had a tremendous experience there. He’s had a great offseason and I’m anxious to watch him carry it over into the season.”

Marshall 2017 football schedule

9/2 – Miami (Ohio)

9/9 – at North Carolina State

9/16 – Kent State

9/30 – at Cincinnati

10/7 – at Charlotte

10/14 – Old Dominion

10/20 – at Middle Tennessee

10/28 – FIU

11/3 – at Florida Atlantic

11/11 – Western Kentucky

11/18 – at UTSA

11/25 – Southern Miss{&end}