BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Taylor Heinicke passed for 471 yards and Ray Lawry rushed for four touchdowns, but Juwan Gardner intercepted a pass that slipped out of Heinicke’s hands and returned it 94 yards as Western Kentucky hung on to defeat Old Dominion University football 66-51 Saturday afternoon at Smith Stadium.
ODU cut the WKU lead to 56-51 on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Heinicke to Antonio Vaughan.
On the following drive, WKU was going in for a score but Richie Staton forced a fumble that Fellonte Misher returned to the 25-yardline.
The Monarchs drove to the WKU three-yardline, but Heinicke’s pass slipped out of his hands and Gardner returned it 96-yards for the decisive touchdown.
Trailing 42-30 at the break, ODU received the ball to open the second half and drove 70-yards capped by a 17-yard Lawry touchdown run.
Kylen Towner followed with a 94-yard kickoff return for WKU but ODU responded as Lawry plowed in from four-yards out to make the score 49-44.
Leon Allen scored from 12-yards out to put the Hilltoppers on top 56-44.
WKU got on the board first as Leon Allen capped a seven play, 73-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
Heinicke connected with Antonio Vaughan for a 44-yard completion to set up a 41-yard Jarrett Cervi field goal to make the score 7-3. The field goal is the first of Cervi’s career.
The Hilltoppers took a 14-3 lead following an interception from Cam Thomas, Doughty hit Antwane Grant for a six-yard touchdown pass.
Following an ODU punt, Doughty tossed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Joel German for a 21-3 WKU lead.
The Monarchs responded with an 11 play, 83-yard touchdown drive capped by Ray Lawry’s 12-yard touchdown run. The key play of the drive was Heinicke’s 17-yard pass to Melvin Vaughn on fourth and five.
The ODU defense forced a fumble that was recovered by Aaron Young and the offense marched 44-yards capped by a one-yard run from Lawry, his second of the game. Heinicke connected with Lawry for 31-yard on 4th and nine to set up the touchdown.
WKU followed with an 16-yard touchdown pass from Doughty to Grant for a 28-16 WKU lead.
The Monarchs came right back on the first play of the drive Heinicke hit Vaughan for 45-yards and then connected with Vaughan for a 19-yard touchdown pass to make the score 28-23 WKU.
Taywan Taylor caught a 34-yard touchdown pass to complete a two-play drive for Western Kentucky for a 35-23 lead.
ODU turned in an 11 play, 89-yard drive as Heinicke tossed a 28-yard pass to Melvin Vaughn to cut the lead to 35-30.
WKU scored one more time to end the half as Doughty hit Jared Dangerfield for a 19-yard touchdown pass for a 42-30 WKU halftime lead.
Heinicke was 27-of-40 for 471-yards and three touchdown passes while Lawry carried 25 times for 148-yards and four touchdowns.
Melvin Vaughn set career highs with eight catches for 94 yards while Antonio Vaughan caught six passes for a career-best 220 yards, the second most receiving yards in school history.
Doughty was 23-of-26 for 371-yards and five touchdowns while Leon Allen rushed for 182-yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Dangerfield led WKU with eight catches for 95-yards.
Notes – True freshman safety Justice Davila started for the first time in his career … Sophomore defensive tackle Rashaad Coward started for the first time in his career … Jarrett Cervi’s 41-yard first quarter field goal was the first of his career, and the longest this season by an ODU kicker … Antonio Vaughan’s 44-yard catch in the first quarter makes him the all-time ODU leader in receiving yards … Vaughan now has a catch in 31-straight games … ODU Athletic Director was recognized at the end of the first quarter for his 11 years as Athletic Director at Western Kentucky … Ray Lawry scored multiple touchdowns for the third time this season and second career three TD game … Satchel Ziffer saw his first action of the season with a second quarter kickoff … Taylor Heinicke caught his first career pass off a deflection and gained two yards for an ODU first down … Antonio Vaughan had his 10th career 100-yard receiving game … Vaughan’s 220 yards were a career-high and second most in school history … Lawry’s 100-yards rushing for the third-straight game … 643 yards of offense is a season-high for ODU … Ray Lawry set career highs with 25 carries for 148 yards and tied Thomas DeMarco with four rushing touchdowns … Heinicke passed for a season-high 473-yards on 27-of-40 and three touchdown passes.