Nick Rice Kicks Game-Winning Field Goal as Time Expires to Lift ODU Over Louisiana Tech, 23-20

By Harry Minium
NORFOLK, Va. – After so much heartbreak, and so much frustration, there was finally joy in the Old Dominion football locker room Saturday night.

The Monarch defense made a clutch, fourth-down stop near midfield, the offense gained just enough yardage to set up a field goal and senior Nick Rice kicked a 46-yard, game-winner as time expired to give ODU a 23-20 victory over Louisiana Tech at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

The victory was the first for ODU over a Football Bowl Subdivision team since Nov. 10, 2018, when the Monarchs defeated North Texas, 34-31. 

"I've had the date in my mind for a long time," said ODU linebacker Jordan Young, a sixth-year senior who played on that 2018 team. "I've thought a lot about it.

"It's such a great feeling to win this game."

Rice, also a senior, said he also remembered the date, but said the program is in far better shape than it was in 2018.

"We have a whole new program," he said. "It was really kind of like getting our first win.

"It felt good to get this one under the belt. More to come."

ODU (2-6 overall, 1-3 C-USA) has played better than its record reflects. The Monarchs lost three close games in a row, defeats that might have shattered the spirit of many teams, but did not shatter ODU, which has played hard, if not always well, all season.

The Monarchs outscored Buffalo, 27-0, in the second half of a 35-34 defeat in which Rice missed an extra point. He was forced to kick the PAT from 35 yards because players ran off the bench and onto the field to celebrate, and he missed by inches.

Then came a 28-21 loss at UTEP in which the Monarchs led in the fourth quarter and a 20-13 overtime loss at Marshall in which ODU led in the final minute before giving up a 52-yard touchdown pass.

In each loss, the Monarchs could point to key mistakes, such as penalties, dropped passes or missed blocks, that cost them in key situations. But when the pressure was on Saturday night, the Monarchs were all clutch.

"To finally go out there and play a full game, execute at the highest level and finally reap the rewards of all of the hard work, sweat and tears we've put into this, is just an awesome feeling," Young said.

After kicking the game-winner, Rice was mobbed by teammates near the student section to the point where he said he lost his breath. "I had a take a break," he said.

After finishing his interview on the CBS Sports Network, which televised the game nationally, first-year coach Ricky Rahne dove into a mosh pit in the locker room.

"I'm so happy for the kids," he said. "Before the game, I talked about toughness and one thing about toughness is you believe in the reward so much that there is no pain that isn't worth it. 

"I told them I wanted them to think about how good it would be to come in that locker room after a win. There was no pain, mental or physical not worth it to win that game and celebrate with your brothers."

The game was tied, 10-10, in a first half in which all of the scoring was packed into the final four minutes. 

The Monarchs got their most explosive play of the year when freshman LaMareon Jones received a kick two yards deep in the end zone, broke to his right and returned it untouched for a touchdown.

ODU took a 17-10 lead on its first drive of the second half when quarterback Hayden Wolff faked a handoff and threw to tight end Zack Kuntz for a 5-yard touchdown.

Louisiana Tech (2-6, 1-3) then got a 44-yard field goal from Jacob Barnes and took a 20-17 led on a Marcus Williams 7-yard touchdown run with 12:01 left in the fourth quarter.

ODU then mounted an extraordinary, 58-yard drive that took 20 plays and milked 10:02 off the clock. Wolff, who completed 23-of-34 passes for 149 yards, was 8-for-10 on that drive.

Facing fourth and goal from the 13, Rahne called on Rice to kick a 29-yard field goal that tied it up with 1:52 left.

LA Tech then drove from its 25 to the ODU 45, where the Bulldogs faced fourth and 3. With starting quarterback Austin Kendall sidelined by injury, and freshman JD Head playing instead, LA Tech coach Skip Holtz decided to go for it. Head's pass fell incomplete.

Rahne said Holtz made the right call going for it on fourth down, especially with his backup quarterback in the game.

"I would have made the same call. You've got to try and win the game," he said.

"Our defense, they all knew they were going to get that stop and give our offense a chance to win and they knew they were going to win it in regulation. And that's awesome."

ODU took over with 28 seconds left and needed about 20 yards to set up Rice.

Wolff started things off with a 10-yard pass to Kuntz. Running back Blake Watson, who rushed for 108 yards, then ran three times for 16 yards. Rahne then let the clock run down to two seconds before calling his last timeout.

LA Tech called a timeout to try and ice Rice, but he drilled the ball through the uprights with plenty of room to spare. That set off a joyous celebration on the field and among the 13,309 at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Rice said he felt no pressure.

"Our defense did such a great job of holding them to give the offense the opportunity to drive and set up that field goal," he said.

"To me, everyone had already done the hard work to get us there.

"It was just time to close the show."

Which he did, with one swing of his powerful leg. 

Notes:
Justinn Richardson started his first game of the season at safety … LaMareon James' 100-yard kickoff return touchdown was ODU's first kick return touchdown since Oct. 28, 2017, when Isaiah Harper had a 98-yard return at North Texas (Harper had a 97-yarder earlier in the game) … The 100-yard return ties Harper's 100-yard return against North Carolina on Sept. 16, 2017 … ODU's previous long kick return this season was 39 yards … Blake Watson's 108-yard rushing day gave him his third-straight 100-yard rushing game … Zack Kuntz caught a game-high eight passes for 67 yards and a touchdown … Nick Rice kicked three field goals to add to his school record total of 57 … Hayden Wolff completed 23-of-34 passes for 149 yards, a touchdown and interception.