NORFOLK, Va. -- Stephen Williams' potential game-winning Hail Mary was intercepted in the endzone with no time left and Old Dominion fell to WKU, 35-31, on Friday evening at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Old Dominion (2-5, 0-3 C-USA) carried a 31-21 lead into the fourth quarter, following Ray Lawry's 46-yard touchdown run late in the third. Lawry finished the game with 166 yards and three touchdowns.
However, WKU (5-2, 3-1 C-USA) and veteran quarterback Mike White, who threw for 304 yards and five touchdowns, stormed back in the fourth with White tossing a pair of touchdown passes to push the Hilltoppers ahead, 35-31, with under eight minutes to play.
Williams guided the Monarchs on an 11-play, 53-yard drive into WKU territory, but a bobbled handoff between Williams and Lawry resulted in a turnover and handed the Hilltoppers back the ball with under three to play. ODU forced a three-and-out and took over with 35 seconds to play, but Williams' Hail Mary with zero seconds on the clock was picked off in the endzone.
Overall, ODU outgained WKU, 448-416, and held a three-minute advantage in time of possession.
Ray Lawry got the Monarchs on the board first with a one-yard touchdown run to cap a seven play, 79-yard drive. Lawry opened the game with a 54-yard run and carried three times for 63-yards on the drive. Quarterback Steven Williams Jr. rushed twice for 15-yards, as ODU did not pass on the drive.
WKU tied the scored on a 44-yard touchdown pass from Mike White to Jacquez Sloan. The score capped a four play, 72-yard drive for the Hilltoppers.
The Monarchs took the lead back early in the second quarter as Jeremy Cox capped off an 11 play, 85-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown run. The big play of the drive was a Williams to Isaiah Harper 31-yard pass play.
WKU tied the score on the following possession with a four-yard pass from White to Yelder to make the score 14-14.
After both teams traded interceptions, White hit Cameron Echols-Luper for his third touchdown of the first half, this one a 13-yarder to give WKU a 21-14 lead late in the first half.
Jeremy Cox also ran for a touchdown for ODU, as the Monarchs outgained WKU, 268-73, on the ground.
NOTES: Melvin Vaughn, Brandon Addison, Oshane Ximines and Bunmi Rotimi were game captains … Joe Joe Headen started his first career game at cornerback … Ray Lawry scored his 42nd career touchdown in the first quarter … Jeremy Cox scored his 17th career touchdown in the second quarter … Joe Joe Headen recorded his first career interception … Lawry’s second TD run gave him 43 for his career … Ray Lawry registered his 19th career 100-yard rushing game and his 11th career multi-touchdown game … Oshane Ximines forced the first fumble of his career … Pat Toal recovered the first fumble of his career … Ximines later forced a second fumble to tied him with Craig Wilkins for second all-time with five … Lawry’s third TD, his 44th career, marked his fifth career game of three or more rushing touchdowns … ODU held WKU to -3 yards of total offense in the third quarter … ODU had 169 yards in the third quarter … Ray Lawry's fumbleless streak was snapped at 346 carries ... It was a sellout crowd for the 58th-straight game.