NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion football welcomed its first power-5 school to Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium on Saturday night, but fell to the NC State Wolfpack, 38-14.
The Wolfpack got on the board first as Jaylen Samuels carried in from three yards out to cap off a 15 play, 73-yard drive that ate up over seven minutes off the clock. The Monarchs tied the score at seven on a 70-yard touchdown pass from Shuler Bentley to Ray Lawry in the second quarter. Lawry’s score marked his first receiving touchdown of his collegiate career.
NC State would then score 14 unanswered points to head into the locker room with a 21-7 lead over the Monarchs. The Wolfpack notched their third-consecutive touchdown off a two-yard run from Matthew Dayes to hold a 28-7 lead over ODU at the 6:44 mark in the third quarter.
Bentley answered with a 13-yard pass to Jonathan Duhart with 2:48 left in the third to pull within two scores, but NC State controlled the final quarter and scored 10 more points to secure the win.
Bentley netted 151 yards, as he went 11-for-23 with two touchdowns. His longest pass was 70 yards to Lawry who ran for in for the score. Lawry was held to just 15 yards on the ground on 11 carries. Fellonte Misher and T.J Ricks paced the ODU defense with double-digit tackles with Misher notching 12 tackles and Ricks recording 10.
Jacoby Brissett went 18-for-27 on the night to total 179 yards and one score. Dayes led all rushing with 108 yards on 20 carries to go along with his one touchdown, while Shadrach Thornton recorded 92 yards and one touchdown. Samuels was the only receiver to notch a touchdown for the Wolfpack, as he netted 43 yards on five catches. Kentavius Street led the Wolfpack defense with six tackles, including one for a loss. Mike Rose notched five tackes and the only solo sack for NC State.
Notes: Game captains for ODU were Martez Simpson, David Washington, Blair Roberts and Rashaad Coward … NC State is the first Power-Five opponent to play at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium … Ray Lawry’s 70-yard touchdown reception was his longest career catch and his first career receiving touchdown … The 70-yard pass was the longest career completion for Bentley … Lawry’s 70-yard touchdown catch was ODU’s longest play since Taylor Heinicke’s 74-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Vaughan against FIU last season … Zach Pascal’s catch in the first quarter gives him 27-straight games with a catch, good for 11th best in the country … Lawry’s 15 rushing yards was his lowest since last season at Vanderbilt when he rushed eight times for 12 yards … Jonathan Duhart scored his first career touchdown on his 13-yard catch in the third quarter … Fellonte Misher tied his career-high with 12 tackles … TJ Ricks had his fifth career double-digit tackle game and leads the Monarchs with 29 tackles.