Sept. 11, 2010
BUIES CREEK, N.C. -- The Old Dominion football team found the end zone on its first three drives and never looked back en-route to its 44-13 win over Campbell University at Lane-Barker Stadium on Saturday.
The victory improves the Monarchs to 1-1 on the year as ODU played in its first road game of the 2010 season.
Marquel Thomas (Va. Beach, Va.) and Reid Evans (Hampton, Va.) led the Monarchs with a pair of touchdown receptions. Evans caught eight passes, the most by a Monarchs, ending the game with 65 yards. Thomas had 61 receiving yards on five receptions.
Thomas, who scored ODU's first-ever touchdown last season against Chowan, put the Monarchs up 7-0 early in the first quarter. Thomas' 22-yard reception from Thomas DeMarco (Palm Desert, Calif.) put the Monarchs ahead with 10:51 on the clock.
The Camels only got off four plays, before the Monarchs regained possession. After a touchback on the punt, the Monarchs covered the 80-yards capping the drive with a 10-yard touchdown reception by Reid Evans (Hampton, Va.). Jarod Brown's (Yorktown, Va.) PAT went wide right, but with 5:32 left in the opening quarter, ODU held a 13-0 edge.
Evans did it again on the next ODU drive. The sophomore receiver registered his fifth TD reception of his career opening second quarter action. Evans' second touchdown of the afternoon came on an eight-yard throw from DeMarco giving his squad a commanding 20-0 lead.
A personal foul penalty put the Camels into the red zone late in the second quarter resulting in Campbell making its first score of the afternoon. Campbell quarterback Daniel Polk, who scored the Camel's two touchdowns in their opener at UVA-Wise, broke the line for a six-yard run into the end zone.
The half ended as Campbell regained control of the ball on an interception. While two plays later it looked as if the Monarchs would have their own interception, the Monarchs were called for roughing the passer and momentum continued for the Camels. As time expired in the opening half, Campbell's Adam Willetts had a 46-yard field goal sail through the uprights and ODU headed into the intermission ahead 20-10.
Thomas got things started for the Monarchs after halftime giving ODU a 27-10 edge on his second touchdown reception and third of his career. His eight-yard catch from DeMarco capped the 11 play, 52-yard drive.
Campbell put up a field goal in the closing minutes of the third quarter. Willets posted his second three-point kick, this time a 38-yard attempt, cutting the Monarch lead to 27-13 with 2:37 left in the third.
Old Dominion wasted no time in responding. On the third play of the drive, Mario Crawford (Detroit, Mich.) tore down the field gaining a 47 yard reception and bringing ODU to the Camel 10. The next play saw DeMarco with the QB keeper to the 1 and then jump over the end line on the next play to put the Monarchs up 34-13 with just 42 seconds left until the start of the final quarter.
Colby Goodwyn (Hampton, Va.), last week's College Football Performance Awards' Kick Returner of the Week, also got into the scoring mix. He had an up and over a pile on the goal line put the Monarchs ahead 41-13 with 12:48 left in the game.
Goodwyn, who saw a majority of the carries in the fourth quarter, finished the game with 17 carries and 58 yards.
Scoring continued for the Monarchs late in the fourth quarter. Brown's 19-yard field goal was good giving ODU the final 44-13 score.
Defensively, ODU's Michael Colbert led the way with seven unassisted tackles. Transfer Deron Mayo (Hampton, Va.) made six total stops, including a six-yard sack. Andrew Turner also took down Camel quarterback, Polk, pushing him back 11 yards.
DeMarco finished the game completing 26 of his 33 throws, including an interception. He racked up 273 passing yards for four touchdowns. Polk had just 68 yards on seven of 15 passing.
The Old Dominion football team returns to action on Saturday, September 18th to face future Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) member William & Mary. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and the game will air live on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (Ch. 35 - Hampton Roads) as part of the CAA television package.
MONARCH MOMENTS:
ODU FOOTBALL SHOW:
The Old Dominion Football Show with Bruce Rader and head coach Bobby Wilder debuted Friday night on Fox43. If you happen to miss the first show, you can log onto WAVY.Com to view it on your computer. The Old Dominion Football Show airs weekly on Fox43 on Friday nights at 10:45 p.m.
ON THE ROAD:
The ODU Football Monarchs hit the road for the first time in 2010, heading to Buies Creek, North Carolina to face Campbell. In their inaugural season, the Monarchs went 3-1 on the road with wins at Jacksonville (28-27), Savannah State (38-17), and VMI (42-35). The lone setback away from the friendly confines of Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium was a 34-29 loss at Fordham. With the 44-13 win, the Monarchs improved to 4-1 all-time on the road. Saturday's game was the first of four road games this season for the Monarchs, who have return dates with Monmouth and North Carolina Central, as well as a jaunt over the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to face Hampton.
OPENING WITH A BANG:
And no, we're not talking about the howitzer you hear being shot off before the Monarchs run onto Foreman Field. Old Dominion scored on opening drive in both of its games of the 2010 season. Marquel Thomas' TD reception at the 10:51 of the first quarter made it the ninth time in the 13 game history of the program the Monarchs have done so.
CRYSTAL BALL:
The Monarchs will take on William & Mary in their next game. While the Monarchs don't join the CAA until 2011, next Saturday's game will give ODU a taste of the toughest FCS league in the nation. The Tribe will mark the first ranked team ODU will face in its young history. William & Mary ranked 14th in the FCS Coach's Poll and 11th in the Sports Network Poll heading into this weekend.
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CATCHING IN THE END ZONE:
Prior to the Campbell game, only Nick Mayers had more than one touchdown reception in a game - at Fordham (10/3/09) and last season at home against Campbell (10/17/09). In Saturday's win Marquel Thomas and Reid Evans joined Mayers in the category as each had a pair of TD catches.
PLAYING CATCH:
Reid Evan's eight receptions are the most by a Monarch. The previous high of six was held by Evans from last year's Jacksonville game.
TD'S FOR TD:
Thomas DeMarco on his 1-yard jaunt over the end line give ODU a 34-13 advantage with 42 seconds left in the third quarter was his19th rushing touchdown as a Monarch.