HUNTINGTON — Terrell Edwards-Maye is amazed at Brian Anderson’s toughness.

“Brian is the toughest quarterback I have ever played with,” Edwards-Maye said. “My high school quarterback was kind of iffy. It he took a hit he might not be right for a couple of weeks.”

Marshall found out in Saturday’s 27-20 loss to Southern Miss that Anderson can take a hit with the best of them. He was sacked six times by a relentless Eagle defense that ranked third in Conference USA going in.

He was hurried six times and was even knocked out of the game for one play after getting hit by defensive end David Boyce. Press Taylor replaced Anderson on that play and, after a bad snap, was sacked for a six-yard loss.

“It wasn’t even that it hurt me all that bad. It was just that he caught me right on my diaphragm,” an iced-up Anderson said after the game. “I couldn’t breathe to save my life. It was like I was playing without rib protectors or something. That was probably the worst (hit), but that’s not even going to hurt me, for the future.”

The Thundering Herd will need that kind of toughness, not to mention step-up performances from a lot of players, if it is to survive the final two regular-season games.

With tight end Cody Slate likely done for the season with a right knee injury, and running back Darius Marshall’s status in doubt because of an injured left ankle, things certainly appear precarious for a team trying to attain bowl eligibility and, by all accounts, save its coach’s job.

The offense didn’t exactly sputter without its best two players. Slate was injured in the first quarter, and Marshall was never a factor as the Herd went heavily to its passing game. Marshall had just 20 yards rushing at the half and finished with 21.

Anderson attempted a career-high 52 passes, completing 29 for 337 yards. Redshirt-freshman Antavious Wilson had 13 receptions for 153 yards.

Wilson and backup tight end Lee Smith certainly looked like they will be Anderson’s go-to targets as the season wraps up.

“(Wilson) and Brian Anderson have something going on that is going well,” head coach Mark Snyder said. “You can just feel it. They have that back-shoulder route down pat. If the (defensive back) is on top of Antavious, he throws it on the back shoulder. If Antavious has him beat, Brian is throwing the ball long, right where it needs to be.”

There is no understating the loss of Slate, but the Herd is fortunate to have Smith in his place. The Tennessee transfer looked like a Slate clone based on the routes he ran.

“In my opinion, Cody Slate’s the best receiving tight end in the country,” Smith said. “He’s irreplaceable as a player, and as a person. His leadership, on and off the field, his ability to make plays in crucial situations, he’s irreplaceable. I’m just going to do my best to step up and try to help my team get through these last two games.

“The main thing I have to try to do is make sure we can stay with our offense. That’s been pretty successful all year. I can’t let our offense change because Cody went down.”

Smith caught six passes for 77 yards, often in the middle of the field in a pattern reminiscent of Slate. Plus, Smith uses his 6-foot-6, 267-pound frame to his advantage.

“I try to punish (defenders) a little bit after I catch the ball,” he said. “Normally, with Cody out there making plays, I just get to punish people without the ball in my hands.”

Whatever happens over the next 14 days — and, they hope, into December — Smith is glad to have Anderson on his side.

“In order to be a successful football team, you have to have a relentless quarterback, and that’s what Brian Anderson has been all year,” Smith said. “He got banged up against UAB. What people don’t notice is him practicing every day. He doesn’t take off practice, no matter how bad he’s hurting. He wants to let all his teammates know he’s there for us.

“He’s just a warrior, and I can’t even begin to explain how much I enjoy playing with a guy like Brian.”

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