CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Old Dominion University Football jumped out to a 28-3 lead in the first half at Charlotte and cruised to a 52-17 win over the 49ers Saturday night at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
Old Dominion's (3-2, 2-0) 52 points are the most the Monarchs have scored against a Conference USA opponent, and the 17 points are the fewest it has given up against a C-USA foe. The margin of victory is also the biggest against a conference team.
ODU took a 31-10 lead into the break, giving up a touchdown to Charlotte with two seconds left in the first half. Charlotte recorded an interception on ODU's first drive of the second half but ODU forced a Charlotte a three and out. Following an ODU punt, Tim Ward sacked the Charlotte quarterback, forced and recovered a fumble to set up a Jeremy Cox one yard touchdown to make the score 38-10 and the Monarchs never looked back.
Isaiah Harper added a nine-yard touchdown catch from Washington, the first score of his carer, and Gemonta Jackson ripped off a 37-yard touchdown run, the longest run of his career and first career touchdown.
Old Dominion got on the board first, as Charlotte tried to punt on their second possession, but the snap to the punter was low and Justin Noye tackled the punter for a 17-yard loss to the 21 yard line. ODU took over and scored on a Jeremy Cox one-yard run to take a 7-0 lead.
The following possession, Sean Carter intercepted the first pass of career for the Monarchs. On third and 12, David Washington found Isaiah Harper for a 45-yard completion to the one, and Cox punched it in from there for a 14-0 ODU lead.
After a Charlotte field goal, ODU made the score 21-3 on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Washington to Pascal. The big play on the drive was a 40-yard reception by Kesean Strong.
ODU tacked on another score with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Washington to Travis Fulgham for a 28-3 lead.
Brad Davis kicked a 35-yard field goal to put ODU on top, 31-3. The key play of the drive was a 23-yard pass from Washington to Pascal.
Charlotte tacked a touchdown on the board with two seconds left in the first half as Kalif Phillips caught a 42-yard score from Kevin Olsen to make the halftime score 31-10 Old Dominion.
Notes: Sophomore Justin Cooper played for the first time in his career … Sean Carter intercepted the first pass of his career in the first quarter … Isaiah Harper’s 45-yard catch was the longest of his career … Jeremy Cox scored multiple touchdowns for the second-straight game … The 41-yard completion to Harper is the longest reception by a receiver so far this season, until Travis Fulgham’s 55-yarder later in the game … Kesean Strong’s 40-yard first quarter catch was the longest of his career … Zach Pascal’s touchdown catch in the first quarter was his 191st of his career, putting him second in school history in receptions … Travis Fulgham’s 55-yard touchdown catch was the longest reception of his career and his first career touchdown … Gemonta Jackson caught the first pass of his career … Brad Davis’ 35-yard field goal was the first of his career … Jeremy Cox’s three rushing touchdowns is a single-game career high … Isaiah Harper scored his first career touchdown in the third quarter … Gemonta Jackson scored his first career touchdown on a 32-yard run in the third quarter … The 52 points are the most for ODU against a Conference USA opponent, surpassing 51 at WKU in 2014 … The 17 given up are the fewest against a C-USA school.