White threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, Slaton rushed for two scores and No. 3 West Virginia used a 42-point second half to beat Marshall 48-23 today.

Held to three first downs and 118 total yards in the opening half, heavy favorite West Virginia (2-0) scored on its first three possessions of the third quarter and handed Marshall its worst home loss since it opened Joan C. Edwards Stadium opened in 1991.

Slaton, held to two first-half yards, erupted after West Virginia went to a power running game. Behind the blocking of fullback Owen Schmitt, Slaton finished with 146 yards and scored on runs of one and 18 yards. White ran for 125 yards.

Swapping home venues from a year ago made a big difference for the Mountaineers, who were playing in Huntington for the first time since 1915.

This one wasn't as lopsided as that 92-6 blowout or even West Virginia's 42-10 rout last year in Morgantown. Still, the Mountaineers improved to 7-0 all time against their cross-state foe.

For much of the game it looked like another Top 5 team was going to get roughed up following Michigan's loss to Appalachian State a week ago.

Special teams gave Marshall (0-2) good field position, the offense mustered enough yards to keep the game competitive and the Thundering Herd defense bottled up Slaton and White in the first half.

Bernard Morris twice staked Marshall to leads, but its defense was on the field nearly the entire third quarter. Eventually, the Thundering Herd wore down on both sides of the ball.

Darius Reynaud caught three passes on West Virginia's opening drive of the second half, taking a quick pass from White, breaking two tackles and scoring on a 23-yard play that tied the score at 13.

Slaton got going with 32 yards on West Virginia's next series to set up White's 20-yard scoring run that put the Mountaineers ahead to stay, 20-16.

West Virginia's Ryan Mundy then recovered a fumble at midfield and White made Marshall pay with a 24-yard pass and a 10-yard run to set up Slaton's 1-yard TD run.

Marshall managed one final burst. Cody Slate got behind safety Eric Wicks and scored on a 42-yard TD pass from Morris to cut Marshall's deficit to 27-23 late in the third. It was Marshall's only touchdown of the second half.