Sept. 18, 2010
NORFOLK, Va. - Gareth Hissong caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Mike Callahan with less than five minutes to play to give #12/13 William & Mary (2-1) a come-from-behind 21-17 win over Old Dominion (1-2) Saturday night in front of a sold out crown at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
On third and goal, Callahan rolled out and hit Hissong in the flat for the winning score, which was Hissong's first career catch.
Jarod Brown had given ODU a 17-14 lead with a 20-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
ODU came out firing, taking the 7-0 lead on a four-yard touchdown pass from Thomas DeMarco (Palm Desert, Calif.) to redshirt sophomore Kai Blanco (Alexandria, Va.). The drive was set-up after Michael Williams (Norfolk, Va.) returned an interception for 17-yards setting up the Monarchs at the Tribe's 48. A 33-yard pass to Marquel Thomas (Va. Beach, Va.) brought ODU into the red zone and four plays later Blanco put the Monarchs into an early lead.
The Tribe had a pair of chances to cut into the lead early in the second quarter. First, David Miller's 31-yard field goal attempt went wide right. With Old Dominion starting the following drive on its own 20, William & Mary quickly regained possession on a fumble on ODU's 17 on the Monarchs' first play. The defense held, which included a nine-yard sack by Deron May (Hampton, Va.) and Ronnie Cameron (Westbury, N.Y.) that put the Tribe at fourth and goal on the ODU 17. This time, Miller's kick hit the right upright and ODU held on to its 7-0 lead.
William & Mary did tie the score in the middle of the second quarter, with Jonathan Grimes capping off a six play, 84 yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown run.
The Monarchs quickly responded as Colby Goodwyn (Hampton, Va,) ripped off a career long 41 yard touchdown run to put ODU back on top and go into halftime up 14-7.
It took just one offensive play in the third quarter to tie the game, as Callahan hit Chase Hill down the right sideline, and he broke two tackles to go in for the score.
The Monarchs reclaimed the lead with 9:41 left in the game. ODU had the ball at first and goal at the Tribe's own two-yard line, but the Monarchs were unable to find a gap in the William & Mary defense to cross the endline. Jarod Brown (Yorktown, Va.), however, managed to get points on the board and put ODU ahead 17-14 with his 20-yard field goal.
The following drive saw Hissong's touchdown that capped an eight-play, 66 yard drive for the Tribe.
Jonathan Grimes led the Tribe with 124 yards rushing and a touchdown. Thomas DeMarco was 21-of-40 passing for 186 yards and the touchdown, while Mario Crawford was his top target with seven catches for 44 yards. Ronnie Cameron (Westbury, N.Y.) and Michael Williams (Norfolk, Va.) led the Monarch defense with 10 tackles each.
The ODU Football Monarchs return to action on Saturday, September 25 at Monmouth.
MONARCH MOMENTS:
NEARING THE CENTURY MARK:
Quarterback Thomas DeMarco entered Saturday's game with 962 rushing yards and creeped closer to the 1,000 career yardage mark with 34 yards on 13 carries. In 14 games as a Monarch, the redshirt junior Californian has totaled 996 rushing yards .
MEMORABLE CAREER MOMENT:
Kai Blanco gave the Monarchs a 6-0 edge over the Tribe in his first career touchdown reception. The 4-yard pass from DeMarco gave the Monarchs a lead over the #12/13 team in the FCS.
NUMBERS GAME:
With his 4-yard pass to Blanco for the first score of the game, DeMarco brought his career touchdown pass number to 28.
DEFENSIVE STAT LINES:
Michael Williams stat line for the night saw the redshirt sophomore linebacker rack up 10 total tackles, a 12-yard sack, two stops for loss of yardage, and a 17-yard interception.
BREAKING-UP IS HARD TO DO:
T.J. Cowart registered three pass break-ups, tying for the most in a game by a Monarch. Cowart has interrupted opponent quarterback throws seven times in his two years at Old Dominion.
ANOTHER FIRST:
Although the Monarchs do not join the league until next season, the Monarchs took on their first opponent from the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and will travel up to Williamsburg, Va. to face the Tribe as an official member of the conference in 2011. Saturday's game also marked the first ranked opponent ODU has ever faced. The Tribe entered the game ranked #12 by The Sports Network Poll and #13 in the FCS Coach's Poll.