NORFOLK, Va. -- Old Dominion fell to Middle Tennessee, 51-17, on Saturday afternoon at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Middle Tennessee led 24-10 with 23 seconds left in the first half and the Monarchs had ball at the MTSU two when Blake LaRussa was intercepted by Reed Blankenship in the end zone and it was returned 100-yards for a touchdown and gave MTSU a 31-10 halftime lead.
Midway through the third quarter Jonathan Duhart caught a five-yard touchdown pass from LaRussa to cut the MTSU lead to 45-17, but Wesley Bush returned an interception late in the fourth quarter to seal the MT win, 51-17.
Middle Tennessee scored first on a 32-yard Crews Holt field goal. The drive was aided by three ODU penalties that kept the Blue Raiders drive alive.
After an ODU three and out, Terrelle West went 71-yards on the first play of the drive to give MTSU a 10-0 lead.
Chaton Mobley scored from a yard out to give Middle Tennessee a 17-0 lead after a failed ODU punt attempt gave MTSU the ball at the ODU 23.
ODU scored on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Blake LaRussa to Travis Fulgham to make the score 17-7 late in the first quarter.
Nick Rice drilled a 24-yard field goal to make the score 17-10 midway through the second quarter. The big play on the drive was a 36-yard completion from LaRussa to Will Knight.
Brent Stockstill carried in from a yard out to make the score 24-10 with three minutes left in the first half.
As a team, Old Dominion committed five turnovers that led to 20 points. Three of the turnovers came in the redzone.
Fulgham tied his career-high with 10 catches for a career-best 215-yards and a touchdown, while Kesean Strong had 17 touches for 108-yards, including a season long 59-yard carry.
Defensively, Lance Boykin intercepted his first career pass and Tim Ward had seven tackles and a sack.
With the loss, the Monarchs will not be bowl eligible.
ODU has its bye next week, before hosting North Texas on Nov. 10 at 3:30 p.m. ET.