NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University Football hosts ACC opponent North Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m. at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. UNC will be the second Power-Five school to visit Norfolk.
| Old Dominion (2-0, 0-0 C-USA) vs. North Carolina (0-2, 0-1 ACC) | |||
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 16 at 3:30 p.m. • Norfolk, Va. • Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium | ||
| Where to Watch | WTVZ • WatchStadium.com • stadium.twitter.com | ||
| Listen | ODU Sports Radio Network | ||
| Series | UNC leads 1-0 | ||
> ODU moved to 2-0 last week with a 17-7 win at UMass. The Monarch defense set a school record with eight sacks, while Jeremy Cox rushed for 97-yards to lead the offense.
> North Carolina fell to Louisville last week, 47-35.
> The seven points given up ties for the second fewest given up by the ODU defense. The lowest allowed was three points against Eastern Michigan in 2014. The seven points ties the seven allowed in a 14-7 win over Gardner-Webb in 2010. The 14 points against Gardner-Webb is the fewest scored in an ODU win. The 17 ties for second fewest, with that Eastern Michigan game in 2014.
> ODU set a single-game record with eight sacks in the win at UMass. The Monarchs set the record of seven the previous week in the win over Albany.
> Junior running back Jeremy Cox carried a career-high 25 times for 97-yards in the win at UMass. Cox had a big second half, with 82 of his 97-yards coming in the last two quarters.
> Blake LaRussa completed 10-of-22 passes for 129-yards and a touchdowns and rushed for 22-yards. Jordan Hoy was 3-for-7 for 40-yards, while carrying nine times for 43-yards.
> Junior linebacker Marvin Branch, notched a career-best 15 tackles in the win at UMass. His previous career-high was 11 in 2015 against Charlotte. In his second start, Jordan Young had 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Leading the Nation
After two games, the ODU defense leads the FBS with 15 sacks. The Monarchs recorded seven sacks in the opener, which was a school record for all of a week after ODU had eight at UMass this past Saturday.
| Rank | Team | Sacks |
| 1. | Old Dominion | 15 |
| 2. | Hawaii | 13 |
| 3. | Clemson | 11 |
| 4. | Arizona State | 10 |
| Michigan | 10 |
First Half Defense
The Monarchs have played great first half defense so far this season, allowing just three first half points. The three points were a first quarter field goal by Albany in the opener.
Offense Likes the Second Quarter
The ODU offense has used the first quarter to warm up, as the offense has scored 21 points in the second quarter, the most of any quarter so far this year. The third quarter has been the worst quarter for the offense with just three points after two games.
No Room to Run
Old Dominion currently ranks 15th in the country in net punting average. Punter Bailey Cate and the Monarchs have a 44.67 net average, and have not given up a yard on three returns.
Cate Near The Top of the Nation
Sophomore punter Bailey Cate is off to a nice start punting, averaging 46.3 yards per punt. He ranks 12th in the nation and is second in Conference USA in punting average.
News and Notes
• Defensive end Daniel Appouh was born in Ghana. Appouh came to the U.S. when he was five.
• Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Travis Fulgham played only two years of high school football before walking on to ODU. He received a scholarship in the fall of his true freshman season.
• Linebacker Jordan Young played quarterback at Coatesville High school and played just two quarters of defense. That’s all the ODU coaches needed to recruit him as a linebacker. In the game, Young intercepted two passes.