Oct. 23, 2010
NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University football scored 34-straight points to turn a 6-0 deficit into a 34-6 lead and cruised to a 34-20 win over Georgia State Saturday evening at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Old Dominion snapped Georgia State's four-game win-streak and gave the Panthers their third loss of the season, ensuring the Monarchs stay the winningest FCS start-up program. The Panthers drop to 5-3 on the year, while the Monarchs upped their overall mark to 4-3.
The Monarchs were down early to the first-year Georgia State program after a pair of Iain Vance field goals put Georgia State up 6-0.
The Panthers' opening drive saw the squad reach the ODU 2 thanks to a 30-yard run by Rosevelt Watson. However at first and goal, the Monarch defense clamped down forcing Georgia State to kick the field goal.
The next Georgia State drive produced Vance's second field goal. The Panthers were once again inside the red zone, but the ODU defense would not budge, forcing the 34-yard attempt from Vance.
The rest of the night then belonged to Old Dominion with the Monarchs going on a tear scoring 34 straight points and holding Georgia State scoreless for two quarters.
After the Monarchs gave up 126 yards of offense to the Panthers in the opening stanza, ODU only allowed the Panthers to gain 47 yards in the second half while racking of 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Mario Crawford (Detroit, Mich.) got the Monarchs onto the scoreboard giving his Old Dominion team the lead for good. The Monarchs' leading rusher used a six-yard run for his second touchdown of 2010 to give ODU the 7-6 edge with 7:03 remaining in the second quarter.
After a three and out by the Panthers, Old Dominion found itself in the end zone yet again. Twice the Monarchs converted fourth down to continue its charge downfield capping the drive with a 18-yard reception by Marquel Thomas (Va. Beach, Va.).
Four plays later, the Monarchs got the ball back as Fred Credle (Chesapeake, Va.) caused Georgia State's Danny Williams to fumble the ball with Donald Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) right there for the recovery. With the ball back in possession, ODU extended its lead to 17-6 with a 44-yard field goal by Jarod Brown (Yorktown, Va.). Brown's 44-yard field goal was his longest and the second longest field goal in ODU's brief two-year history.
Old Dominion put up 15 more points in the third quarter.
Georgia State opened the third stanza with the ball and made its way down into ODU territory. With the Panthers on the ODU 42, Panther quarterback Drew Little threw 13-yards to Parris Lee, but J.J. Williams (Derby, Kan.) caused the opposition to fumble. Craig Wilkins (Washington, D.C.) made the recovery setting up ODU for an eight-play, 71 yard drive resulting in a 23-yard touchdown run by Colby Goodwyn (Hampton, Va.).
For Goodwyn, it was his third rushing touchdown of the season.
Another Georgia State fumble turned into another Monarch score later in the third quarter. As the nation's leading punter Jonathan Plisco (Newport News, Va.) booted the ball 47 yards, Panther punt returner Albert Wilson fumbled, giving the Monarchs' Alex Arain (Va. Beach, Va.) the opportunity to return the ball back to Old Dominion at the Panthers' own nine yard line.
Although the Monarchs were pushed back for negative yardage, Brown kicked to 29-yard field goal attempt through the uprights to give ODU the 27-6 advantage with 2:44 left in the quarter.
Scoring still wasn't over for the Monarchs as Georgia State fumbled again. Wilkins not only caused the fumble, but collected his second fumble recovery of the afternoon.
Starting deep into Panther territory, the Monarchs needed just five plays to find the end zone yet again. Thomas DeMarco (Palm Desert, Calif.) on the qb keeper posted his team-leading fifth rushing touchdown this year to put ODU ahead 34-6 heading into the final quarter.
Georgia State notched a pair of touchdowns during the fourth quarter for the game's final score. Travis Evans had a 32-yard reception and Little found his way over the endline on a nine-play, 80 yard Georgia State drive midway through the quarter.
Defensively, the Monarchs had a big night from T.J. Cowart (Va. Beach, Va.) who lead the way with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops, and three pass break-ups. Cowart, who also had three pass break-ups in games with nationally-ranked William & Mary and Gardner-Webb, had made 13 in his career as a Monarch.
Wilkins, who forced a pair of fumbles along with a fumble recovery that led to Monarch scores, finished the night with seven tackles, including 2.5 for seven negative yards for the Panthers.
Williams also posted eight tackles in the Monarch victory.
Old Dominion is on the road next week, but they won't have to travel very far. The Monarchs take on Hampton in a battle of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel on Saturday, October 23rd at 1:00 p.m.
MONARCH MOMENTS:
PUTTING THE "D" IN DEFENSE:
Craig Wilkins, J.J. Williams, and Fred Credle each forced Georgia State fumbles Saturday. The three force fumbles ties the mark for the most in a game. The Monarchs also had three last season against Campbell.
Additionally, the four fumble recoveries - Alex Arain, Donald Smith and two by Wilkins, were the most by the Monarchs in a game thus far. The previous high of three came last season in a loss at Fordham.
Also, the Monarchs' 10 pass break-ups were the most by the team. Led by Cowart's three, ODU surpasses its previous high of nine against Presbyterian last year.
BREAKING-UP IS HARD TO DO:
T.J. Cowart has registered three pass break-ups each in games in three of ODU's seven games played so far in 2010. Not only did he have a trio tonight, but he also had them against William & Mary and Gardner-Webb, tying for the most in a game by a Monarch. Cowart has interrupted opponent quarterback throws 13 times in his two years at Old Dominion as the Monarchs' leader in the stat.
12th MONARCH MOMENTS:
There may be 11 Monarchs on the field, but the 12th Monarch is in the stands. Thanks to the "Blue Out" and all the noise of being "Loud and Proud" from the 12th Monarchs, Georgia State had nine penalties, the most penalties by an opponent on ODU's home field. So far, the 12th Monarch has helped the ODU opposition rack up 36 penalties this season and 50 overall.
FINDING THE OPEN MAN:
Monty Smalley led the receiving corps tonight with 61 yards on nine catches. The nine catches are the most by a Monarch in a game. The previous high was eight by Reid Evans in the 44-13 victory over Campbell back on September 11th.
THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS:
Jarod Brown's 44-yard field goal was his longest this season and the second longest field goal in the brief 18 game history of the ODU program. Drew Hareza still holds the record having converted a 48-yard attempt in the historic 2009 opener against Chowan. Brown has made seven of his nine field goal attempts this year.
NUMBERS GAME:
With his lone touchdown pass, an 18-yard Marquel Thomas reception, quarterback Thomas DeMarco brought his career touchdown pass number to 37. His one yard run on the Monarchs' final touchdown of the night also gave him his Demarco also has 21st rushing touchdown.
HOW'D HE DO?:The nation's leading FCS punter Jonathan Plisco had six punts Saturday night averaging 38.5 yards. His longest punt of the night went 47 yards.