ODU Football Claims 100th Program Victory by Holding Off Liberty, 21-7

By Harry Minium

NORFOLK, Va. – Torrential rains did much to keep Old Dominion’s high-powered offense out of the end zone Saturday night, and the Monarchs did themselves no favors by committing four turnovers. But ODU scored just enough points, and rode the strength of a stellar defensive effort, to defeat Liberty, 21-7, Saturday night at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

It was an historic victory for ODU – it was the University’s 100^th since the Monarchs began playing football in 2009. And this one came against an in-state opponent against whom the Monarchs have struggled.

Liberty had won four games in a row against ODU since 2018 by a combined score of 173-61. Of those games, only one was relatively close – Liberty’s 38-24 victory at ODU in 2022.

It was the third consecutive victory for ODU, which was coming off its first win ever at Virginia Tech two weeks ago. ODU is 3-1 for the first time since 2014.

ODU Head Coach Ricky Rahne acknowledged his team didn’t have its best night but said the victory was nonetheless sweet.

“We didn’t play as well as we needed to on third down,” he said. “But, hey, that’s a team we’ve had some struggles with and that’s something everyone loved to remind me of. I even had a waitress remind me of that on Thursday night while I was trying to get a meal with my family.

“We were able to come out here and dominate the game, basically from start to finish. Yes, the score was a little bit tighter than we’d all like, but I’m going to be honest. I don’t know if they really felt like they had a chance when we began to score.

“We dominated the line of scrimmage.”

And the Monarchs were dominant on the stat sheet as well.

The Monarchs outgained Liberty, 483-210, and the defense allowed the fewest yards ever against an FBS opponent. ODU had 25 first downs to Liberty’s 10.

As for the 100 wins, Rahne paid homage to former ODU Head Coach Bobby Wilder, who won 77 games before stepping down in 2019.

“The 100 wins, that’s all Bobby,” Rahne said. "That’s on him. He and everyone here did such a great job building this program from the start.”

Quarterback Colton Joseph didn’t have his best game – he had a fumble and interception – but once again, had an outstanding bottom line. He completed 18 of 26 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 15 times for 76 more.

Wide receiver Ja’Cory Thomas, a transfer from Hutchinson Junior College in Kansas, had five receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns, including a 55-yard TD in the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach.

Neither team scored in a lackluster first quarter in which, while playing in a downpour, they combined for just 147 yards and nine first downs.

Both teams had scoring chances.

Liberty’s Jay Billingsley drilled a 46-yard field goal attempt long enough but just wide right. ODU, meanwhile, failed to score in the red zone for the first time this season when Trequan Jones fumbled at the Liberty six.

The rains intensified early in the second quarter, as did the turnovers. Seconds into the second quarter, Liberty running back Evan Dickens fumbled deep in Flames’ territory. Zion Frink forced the fumble, which was recovered by senior defensive lineman Ricardo Williams Jr. at the 3.

ODU returned the favor three plays later when Joseph passed to Maurki James, who fumbled as he hit the turf at the Liberty one and the Flames recovered.

The rain finally began to abate midway through the second quarter and ODU’s offense finally kicked into gear.

ODU was at the Liberty 45 when Joseph ran around the right end for a 23-yard gain. On the next play, he tossed a 22-yard touchdown pass to TJ Johnson to give the Monarchs a 7-0 lead with 7:34 left. It was the first career TD reception for Johnson, a transfer from Southwest Mississippi Junior College.

After holding Liberty on downs, the Monarchs marched 89 yards on four plays, with Joseph connecting on three passes for 80 yards, including a 31-yard toss to Thomas, who hauled in the touchdown pass as he went down in the back of the end zone.

ODU led 14-0 and appeared headed for another TD after a Jeremy Mack interception gave the Monarchs good field position at the Liberty 43. On third and goal, Joseph kept the ball and as he was being tackled, reached the ball across the goal line for what appeared to be touchdown.

But as he reached, the ball fell from his hands and game officials ruled it a fumble, which Liberty recovered.

It was ODU’s third lost fumble in the red zone.

Another turnover, a rare poorly thrown pass from Joesph, led to Liberty’s first and only touchdown.

Liberty's A'Khori Jones picked off an underthrown pass and returned it 28 yards to the Liberty 36. Liberty then quickly drove 64 yards for the TD, with Julian Gray scoring from four yards out with 9:11 left in the third quarter.

ODU’s offense continued to struggle to put points on the board, with the next two possessions ending with a punt and a missed 52-yard field goal attempt by Riley Callaghan.

But ODU’s defense continued to shut down the Flames, including a critical stop when, on fourth down and two at the ODU 45, Liberty gambled and went for the first down. Quarterback Ethan Houck carried up the middle and was stopped inches short of the first down by Jahleel Culbreath and DeAndre Lynch. 

The ball turned over to ODU, and two plays later, Joseph found Thomas at the 35. He outran two defensive backs for a 55-yard pass reception with 13:17 left.

“I’m proud of these guys because I thought they just grinded,” Rahne said. “To not play your best football and still be able to grind it out, that was impressive.”

Rahne said the older players on his team reminded the younger ones about ODU’s history with Liberty.

“They were trying to make sure everybody understood just how much they wanted to win this game,” Rahne said.

“We hadn’t beaten them since 2013,” said senior defensive lineman Kris Trinidad. “So that’s definitely something we wanted to check off the list.”

Joseph said that Rahne seemed more jovial than usual after a victory.

“He was pretty hype. He was pretty excited,” Joseph said.

“We didn’t play our best tonight, but we hadn’t beaten them in a long time.

“It was definitely a good win.”

Notes: Zion Frink forced his first career fumble and Ricardo Williams Jr. recovered his first career fumble … Jeremy Mack had his first career interception in the second quarter … Colton Joseph’s multi-touchdown pass game was his third in a row and sixth of his career …  Thomas' 114 receiving yards was a career high. It was his first career 100-yard game and first career two touchdown game … His 55-yard touchdown reception is ODU’s longest pass play of the season … Trequan Jones had a career high 16 carries, for 89 yards … Jahleel Culbreath led ODU with nine tackles … Zion Frink had five tackles, a tackle for loss and the forced fumble … Kris Trinidad added five tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack … Fred Giles notched his first career sack  … It was ODU’s first win over Liberty since a 21-17 victory in 2013. … It was the second time this season that ODU held a team to under 10 points.