GAME ONE: Old Dominion vs. Campbell

Aug. 30, 2011

Campbell Game Notes

Game One
Saturday, September 3, 2011 - 6:00 p.m. (EST)
Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium
Old Dominion Monarchs (0-0, 0-0 CAA) vs.
Campbell Camels (0-0, 0-0 Pioneer)

TV: None
Radio: ESPN RADIO - 94.1 FM
(Ted Alexander - Play-by-Play; Andy Mashaw - Color Analyst; Demetrius Means - Sideline)
Video: Monarch Media (Subscription Required)
Livestats: Gametracker

CAA Weekly Teleconference Audio: Available at the CAA Press Box at CAAFootball.com

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THE QUICK HITS

* Old Dominion enters Saturday's game with Campbell riding a five game win-streak. The Monarchs' last loss came with a 50-37 setback to #14/16 Cal Poly back on Oct. 9, 2010.

* Old Dominion restarted its football program in 2009 after a 69-year absence and in its two-years has compiled a 17-5 overall mark as the best start-up in FCS history.

* Old Dominion went 9-2 in its inaugural season and 8-3 in 2010.

* After playing two years as an independent in the FCS, the Monarchs join the CAA, considered by many to be the best FCS conference in the nation. Six of the CAA's 11 programs were ranked in the national preseason polls - William & Mary, Delaware, New Hampshire, James Madison, Villanova, and Richmond. ODU will face all but New Hampshire this season.

* Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium continues to be the place to be in Hampton Roads on Saturdays. In the Monarchs' 14 games, all have been sellouts of the 19,782 seat stadium.

* As a team last season, the Monarchs were ranked fourth in kickoff returns (24.86), eighth in sacks allowed (0.82), eighth in scoring offense (33.55), 11th in tackles for loss (7.91), and 19th in net punting (35.55).

* Individually in the national stats last season, quarterback Thomas DeMarco ranked seventh in total offense (289.00), Jonthan Plisco ranked second in punting (44.30), missing on leading the nation for the second straight season by .05 yards, Colby Goodwyn finished third in kickoff returns (29.83), and defensive tackle Ronnie Cameron ranked eighth in tackles for loss (1.73).

ALL-TIME VS. CAMPBELL:

All-Time vs. Pioneer League:
Campbell: 2-0
Jacksonville: 1-1

LAST TIME VS. CAMPBELL:
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.

Marquel Thomas and Reid Evans 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 put the Monarchs up 7-0 early in the first quarter. Thomas' 22-yard reception from Thomas DeMarco 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. Jarod Brown's 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 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 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 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.

NOTES FROM THE FIRST MEETING -10/17/2009

WE'RE ON THE ONE:
Punter Jonathan Plisco had a 76-yard punt midway through the third quarter for his longest punt of his career. That punt caused the Camels to start their drive all the way from their own one-yard line. Having helped the Camels stay downfield, it helped set up the Monarchs' first touchdown drive of the second half.

SECOND HALF STOP:
After the Camels gained 137 yards on the ground in the first half, the ODU defense only allowed Campbell to gain 59 rushing yards in second half action.

NOTES FROM THE SECOND MEETING - 9/11/2009

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 the 44-13 win in Buies Creek last season, Marquel Thomas and Reid Evans joined Mayers in the category as each had a pair of TD catches.

ONE MAN SHOW:
For all but four plays of the fourth quarter, the man producing the offense was Colby Goodwyn. In all, Goodwyn carried the ball 15 times and racked up 47 yards and a touchdown. On one drive alone, Goodwyn ran each play - 14 times for 38 yards. Starting from the ODU 49, Goodwyn racked up four first downs for the Monarchs and set up Jarod Brown to kick a 19 yars field goal for the final score of the game.

SOLD OUT:
The Old Dominion University football program begins its third season of competition and its first as an official member of the Colonial Athletic Association this fall, and for the third consecutive year the Monarchs have sold through their season ticket allocations at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

Since starting football in 2009, Old Dominion University has sold out of all available season tickets, setting national attendance records for start-up Football Championship Subdivision programs. The Monarchs ranked fourth in both accumulated and average attendance in 2010 and a total of 276,948 fans have entered through the turnstiles in the 22-games played at Foreman Field the last two seasons.

ODU fans purchased more than 14,000 season tickets for the 2011 season, with 400 of those tickets sold to 140 members of the football waiting list. The waiting list, created in 2009, currently has 1,710 members who are the first group contacted when season tickets become available.

WELCOME TO THE CAA:
Entering its inaugural season in the CAA, the ODU Football Monarchs were picked 10th in the conference's Preseason Poll announced at CAA Football Media Day at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md.

2011 CAA FOOTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH (first-place votes)
1. William and Mary (12)
2. James Madison (4)
3. Delaware (2)
4. New Hampshire (2)
5. Massachusetts (1)
6. Richmond
7. Villanova
8. Rhode Island (1)
9. Maine
10. Old Dominion
11. Towson

JOB WELL DONE:
Old Dominion football Coach Bobby Wilder has announced four promotions on his coaching staff this preseason. Dealton Cotton has been elevated to Assistant Head Coach, Keita Malloy has added the title Pass Game Coordinator, Ron Whitcomb will serve as the Monarchs' Recruiting Coordinator, and Jarod Dodson will add Assistant Defensive Coordinator to his duties.

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 its opening drive in six of its 11 games last season and 13 times in the 22 game history of the program.

PAYTON AWARD:
Old Dominion quarterback Thomas DeMarco is among the 20-player Walter Payton Watch List for the Football Championship Subdivision's (FCS) top individual honor. The Payton Award will celebrate its 25th anniversary this season and be presented to the FCS' outstanding player at the national awards banquet Thursday night, Jan. 5 in Frisco, Texas.

The 2011 Watch List includes 11 quarterbacks. Joining DeMarco on the list are seniors DeAndre Presley of Appalachian State, Casey Therriault of Jackson State, Mike Brown of Liberty, B.J. Coleman of Chattanooga, Josh McGregor of Jacksonville, Bo Levi Mitchell of reigning FCS champion Eastern Washington and Tirrell Rennie of Northern Iowa, juniors Casey Brockman of Murray State, and Brad Sorensen of Southern Utah, and sophomore DeNarius McGhee of Montana State.

Also included on the list are senior running backs Jonathan Grimes of William & Mary, Mike Mayhew of North Carolina A&T and D.J. McNorton of North Dakota State, as well as junior Jamaine Cook of Youngstown State and sophomores Nate Eachus of Colgate and Andrew Pierce of Delaware along with junior fullback Eric Breitenstein from Wofford.

The Watch List also includes two wide receivers, Liberty senior Chris Summers and Eastern Washington junior Brandon Kaufman.

Entering the 2011 inaugural Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) season, the Monarch signal caller has already garnered some preseason attention. DeMarco is a Preseason Honorable Mention All-American by the Consensus Draft Services and was named to the College Football Performance Awards Quarterbacks Watch List in addition to be listed as one of the Top FCS Quarterbacks by The Sports Network.

A member of the Walter Payton Watch List for the second straight season, DeMarco averaged 250.5 yards passing per contest including passing for a career-high 407 yards at Monmouth. He also passed for over 300 yards against Jacksonville and #14/16 Cal-Poly and threw for a career-high four touchdowns in games at Campbell, at Monmouth, and vs. #14/16 Cal Poly. On the ground, the two-year starting Monarch QB ran for 423 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns as the Monarchs' second leading rusher. He averaged 38.5 yards rushing per game, running for a pair of touchdowns at Hampton and versus Savannah State.

GOOD WORK Ronnie Cameron:
Old Dominion defensive tackle Ronnie Cameron was among the record 132 nominees announced for the 2011 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. The award recognizes the selfless contributions to volunteerism and community service made by college football student-athletes across the nation.

This year marks the program's 20th year honoring college football players at all levels of competition who stand out for their "good works" in the community. Since 1992, selection to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® has become the gold standard for off-the-field character and leadership for college football players. The honor is widely considered the sport's pre-eminent community service award.

Entering last season as a "Transfer to Watch" by the Sports Network after joining the ODU program from Hofstra, Cameron started all 11 games at tackle for the Monarchs and ended the year second on the ODU defense with 72 tackles (28 solo, 44 assisted). The Second Team All-State honoree was tied for eighth among FCS defenders in tackles for loss, averaging 1.73 TFL's a game and was second on the squad with 5.5 sacks. Cameron also led ODU with eight QB hurries, captured forced fumbles against VMI and N.C. Central and had a career-high 14 stops in the season finale at N.C. Central.

Away from the field, Cameron is active in the numerous Monarch Reachout programs including the annual National Marrow Donor Registry and the annual "Little Feet Meet" with ODU Special Olympics and has also participated in activities with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Virginia and the summer clinic with the Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Virginia. Cameron has also served as a volunteer at the United Methodist Church, homeless shelters and at the Westbury Recreation Center and volunteered at Leesville Middle School and Larchmont Recreation Center.

A Dean's List student, Cameron finished his undergraduate degree in three years and is currently working towards his MBA. In addition to being a captain of the ODU Football Monarchs, he is also a member of the ODU MBA Association and is a recipient of the Luke Hillier Endowment for academic and athletic success. Cameron also helped led, organize, and was a keynote speaker at the third annual Black Male Summit.

FIRST MONARCH NFL SIGNEE:
Former Old Dominion defensive end Deron Mayo signed a free agent contract with the National Football League's Denver Broncos becoming the first Monarch to do so.

Mayo's impact at Old Dominion was immediate from the time he set foot on campus. Choosing to play his final season of collegiate football at ODU after Hofstra University disbanded its program, Mayo was named a "Transfer to Watch" by the Sports Network and in a vote by his teammates, was named a Co-Captain, showing their respect for the defensive end with Mayo not even having played a game in the Monarch uniform.

In 2010, Mayo was third on the ODU defense making 70 tackles and made five or more stops in 10 of the Monarchs' 11 games. He led the Monarchs in sacks, was second on the team in tackles for loss, forced a team-leading three fumbles, recorded a team second-best seven QB hurries, and tied for third among teammates with three pass break-ups. As a member of the special teams unit, Mayo blocked two kicks, including a punt at Hampton resulting in a Monarch score.

Mayo was released by the Broncos on Aug. 29.

TO THE MAX:
When the Monarchs reported to preseson camp on Aug. 7th, the roster was at the NCAA maximum for the first time in the ODU program's history as 95 Football Monarchs reported.

RISE AND SHINE:
Here's a list to show how early the Monarchs have scored over the last two years.

12th MONARCH MOMENTS:
There may be 11 Monarchs on the field, but the 12th Monarch is in the stands. Thanks to all the noise of being "Loud and Proud" from the 12th Monarchs at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium, the opposition was charged with 51 in 2010 and 41 in 2009.

2009 12th Monarch Stats:
Chowan: Seven Penalties
Virginia Union: Eight Penalties
Monmouth: Three Penalties
Presbyterian: Four Penalties
Campbell: Eight Penalties
Georgetown: Five Penalties
N.C. Central: Six Penalties

2010 12th Monarch Stats:
Jacksonville: Seven Penalties
William & Mary:Eight Penalties
Gardner-Webb:Five Penalties
Cal Poly:Seven Penalties
Georgia State:Nine Penalties

PRESEASON HONOREES:

Walter Payton Watch List:
Thomas DeMarco, QB

Lindy's Preseason All-FCS Team:
Jonathan Plisco, P, Second Team

Phil Steele Preaseason All-Americans:
Jonathan Plisco, P, Second Team

Consensus Draft Services Preseason All-Americans:
Jonathan Plisco, P, Second Team
Thomas DeMarco, QB, Honroable Mention
Colby Goodwyn, KR, Honorable Mention

College Sports Madness Preaseason All-Americans:
Jonathan Plisco, P, Second Team
Colby Goodwyn, KR, Third Team

College Football Performance Awards Watch Lists:
Colby Goodwyn, KR
Thomas DeMarco, QB
Prentice Gill, WR
Ronnie Cameron, DT
Craig Wilkins, LB
Jarod Brown, K
Jonathan Plisco, P

Phil Steele Preseason All-CAA:
Jonathan Plisco, P, First Team
Thomas DeMarco, QB, First Team
Ronnie Cameron, DL, First Team
Colby Goodwyn, KR, Second Team
Prentice Gill, WR, Second Team

College Sports Madness Preseason All-CAA Team:
Jonathan Plisco, P, First Team
Colby Goodwyn, KR, First Team
Thomas DeMarco, QB, First Team

Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Nominee:
Ronnie Cameron

Sports Network Top 10 Quarterbacks:
Thomas DeMarco

Sports Network Special Teams To Watch:
Jonathan Plisco

For more information on ODU Football, check out complete game notes