NORFOLK, Va. – Taylor Heinicke hit David Washington for an eight-yard touchdown pass in overtime to lift Old Dominion to a 30-27 victory over Louisiana Tech Saturday afternoon in Norfolk.
A Cam Boyd 16-yard touchdown run with 6:17 left in the fourth quarter sent the game into overtime. The first overtime game in school history.
In the extra session, the ODU (5-6, 3-4) defense held LA Tech to a 25-yard Kyle Fischer field goal. The Monarchs started their drive with a Boyd run for a loss of two-yards, but Heinicke found Washington on the right sideline for a gain of 19 and on the next play threw a quick pass to Washington, who made a defender miss and stretched over the goal line for a touchdown.
Trailing 24-14 at the break, ODU received the second half kick and went on a 16 play, 56-yard drive that took up 9:09 of clock while Satchel Ziffer made a career-long 46-yard field goal to make the score 24-17.
ODU then embarked on a 11 play, 72-yard drive that was capped by Boyd’s 16-yard run. ODU was methodical, converting a pair of third downs on completions to Melvin Vaughn and Antonio Vaughan, and a 19-yard pass to Washington.
Louisiana Tech (7-4, 6-1) got on the board first, at the end of the first quarter as Sokol connected on a 10-yard pass with Trent Taylor.
The Monarchs answered on their first drive of the second quarter as Ray Lawry scored from six yards out to cap a seven play, 79-yard drive. Heinicke hit Antonio Vaughan for passes of 29 and 22 yards.
Kenneth Dixon carried in from seven-yards out the following drive to give LA Tech a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.
LA Tech intercepted Heinicke and followed with a two-yard touchdown run from Marlon Seets to take a 21-7 lead.
The Monarchs made the score 21-14 on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Heinicke to Washington to complete an 11 play, 80-yard scoring drive.
Kyle Fischer kicked a 43-yard field goal as time expired to end the first half and give the Bulldogs a 24-14 halftime lead.
Heinicke was 29-of-40 on the day for 302-yards and two touchdown passes.
Boyd rushed 11 times for 50-yards and a touchdown, while Washington had eight catches for a career-best 106-yards and the game-winning TD, and Vaughan had nine grabs for 92-yards.
Dixon had 23 carries for 106-yards and a touchdown. Sokol was 18-of-28 for 209-yards and a score while Taylor had five receptions for 92-yards.
Martez Simpson led ODU with 10 tackles, while TJ Ricks had nine and a forced fumble. Reggie Owens intercepted a Sokol pass that gave ODU the ball with 2:19 to play but a Heinicke interception sent the game into overtime.
Notes: The overtime game was the first one in ODU history … David Washington was named the MVP of the 65th Oyster Bowl after catching eight passes for 106-yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime ... It is the ninth fourth quarter comeback win in Heinicke’s career, the most among QB’s in Division I … It was the 26th 300-yard passing game of Heinicke’s career … Cam Boyd’s 50-yards rushing was the most for the senior this season … David Washington had his first career 100-yard receiving game with 106 and the first multi-touchdown game of his career … Satchel Ziffer’s 46-yard field goal was the longest of his career and the longest of the season by an ODU kicker … Reggie Owens intercepted his first pass of the season and third of his career … The game was the 41st straight sellout in school history … ODU’s win over LA Tech sets up the Bulldogs game against Rice next week as a winner-take all game, as the winner will win the C-USA West and take on Marshall in the Conference USA Championship game … ODU has beaten both Rice and now LA Tech ... ODU honored 16 seniors before the game; Kyle Bottoms, Cam Boyd, Malik Gumbs, Taylor Heinicke, Eriq Lewis, Mike Lennox, Rick Lovato, Josh Mann, Jevon Neal, Reggie Owens, Phil Paulhill, Gary Scruggs, D.J. Simon, Andre Simmons, Chris Smith and Antonio Vaughan ... It was the second-straight day an ODU athletics team defeated a school from Louisiana, as the ODU men's basketball team defeated LSU on Saturday.