Sophomore quarterback Rakeem Cato has already thrown for 235 yards and three touchdowns to help the Marshall Thundering Herd earn a 31-10 halftime lead over the visiting Houston Cougars in a Conference USA football game at Edwards Stadium.

Cato has completed 19 of 28 passes while wide receivers Antavious Wilson, Tommy Shuler and Davonte Allen each caught touchdowns for Marshall (4-6, 33 C-USA), which has limited Houston (4-6, 3-3) to just 151 total yards of offense. The Herd have 388 yards of total offense.

Marshall running back Kevin Grooms capped the half's scoring with a 69-yard rushing touchdown with 1:05 to play. An extra point by kicker Justin Haig gave the Herd a three-touchdown lead heading into the locker room.

The Cougars' lone touchdown drive took 10 plays and marched 70 yards, and ended with starting quarterback Crawford Jones throwing a three-yard pass to Shane Ros, who caught the ball in the back of the end zone and helped trim the Herd lead to 17-7 with 6:08 to remaining in the second quarter.

Houston kicker Matt Hogan kicked a 32-yard field goal with 1:55 to go to cut Marshall's lead to 24-10.

Jones finished the half 13-for-21 with 82 yards.