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POST-GAME PRESS CONFERENCE:
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NORFOLK, Va. - Larry Pinkard returned a blocked punt five yards and Thomas DeMarco ran for two touchdowns in the last seven minutes as Old Dominion hung on to defeat Hampton 45-42 Saturday night in Norfolk.
ODU held a 17-14 halftime lead and quickly stretched the lead to 10 on a five-yard Angus Harper touchdown, but Hampton came right back, catapulted by a Justin Blake interception, with 13-straight points, two field goals by Taurean Durham and a 42-yard fumble return by Jeremy Jermin to take a 27-24 lead.
The Monarchs retook the lead as James Faircloth blocked a Jordan Stovall punt and Larry Pinkard returned it five yards for the 31-27 lead. It was the Monarchs' 15th blocked punt and the third time in the two meetings with the Pirates that ODU has blocked a punt.
The Pirates' Jorrian Washington gave Hampton the lead back briefly with a nine yard run, but DeMarco led ODU on two scoring drives, one a 14 play, 67-yard drive and the other a 10-yard drive after Edmon McClam sacked Hampton quarterback David LeGree and forced a fumble.
Hampton scored with just over a minute left, but the ensuing onsides kick went out of bounds.
DeMarco finished the night 20-of-29 passing, with 172 yards, while rushing for 29 yards with two scores. Angus Harper and Colby Goodwyn comined to run for 199 yards, with Harper leading the way with 111 and two scores.
LeGree finished 25-of-35 passing for the Pirates for 260 yards with a touchdown. He also rushed for 66 yards and a score.
Defensively, the Monarchs were led by redshirt junior linebacker Craig Wilkins with 17 stops, while Chad King recorded eight tackles, and Eriq Lewis had seven. McClam also finished the night with a pair of sacks.
The ODU Football Monarchs return to action in their first CAA Football contest when they travel to FCS national runner-up Delaware for a noon kick next Saturday. The game will air live on Cox Ch. 11 in the Hampton Roads area, as well as, The Comcast Network, and Comcast New England with Marc Zumoff and Kevin Reilly calling the action.
MONARCH MOMENTS:
TAKING THE WIN STREAK TO NEWARK:
With Penn falling to Lafayette, 37-12, Old Dominion now brings the nation's longest win streak among FCS schools to its first Colonial Athletic Association contest at Delaware next week. The Monarchs have won eight straight games dating back to its 50-37 set back to nationally ranked Cal Poly back on November 9th of last season.
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY:
It was only the third game in their 25-game history the Football Monarchs have encountered inclement weather. In 2009 ODU defeated Campbell, 28-17, on an overcast and drizzling October 17, 2009 afternoon at Foreman Field while a comeback against Fordham fell short, 34-29, at a soggy Jack Coffey Field on Oct 3, 2009.
BLOCK THAT KICK:
Special Teams is now up to 15 blocked kicks thanks to true freshman James Faircloth. Faircloth blocked the Pirates punt that led to the recovery and touchdown by Larry Pinkard in opening minutes of the fourth quarter. It was also the third time the Monarchs have blocked a Pirate punt with former Monarchs Deron Mayo and Desmond Williams having done so last season.
FUMBLE, FUMBLIA, FUMBLEROOKSI:
Old Dominion had four forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries in Saturday's win over Hampton. The four forced fumbles, which included a pair by senior defensive end Edmon McClam, where the most by the Monarchs in their three-year history.
ANOTHER IT'S A MOST MOMENT:
Redshirt junior linebacker and co-capain Craig Wilkins led the ODU defense with 17 tackles replacing his previous high of 11 stops in last year's game with nationally-ranked Cal Poly. Its also a new record for stops by a Monarch defender in a game, replacing the previous of 14 by Ronnie Cameron in last year's season finale at N.C. Central.
UPDATING THE NUMBERS:
Thomas DeMarco with his two touchdown runs scored his 29th and 30th rushing scores...Angus Harper had two touchdowns bringing his season total to three...Colby Goodwyn also ran in his second touchdown of the season and fourth of his career.
AT HOME:
The ODU Football Monarhs in the 45-42 win over Hamtpon improved to 12-4 all-time and 2-0 this season at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.