ODU Football Holds On To Defeat App State, 24-21

By Harry Minium

NORFOLK, Va. – It wasn’t a thing of beauty, and the final score was far closer than it should have been.

But the Old Dominion football team ended what had been an unsettling, two-game losing streak on Saturday, holding off App State, 24-21, before a festive homecoming crowd of 18,097 at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

The victory left ODU (5-3 overall, 2-2 Sun Belt) one victory short of bowl eligibility with four games left to play. The Monarchs could clinch bowl eligibility Saturday at ULM (3:30 p.m. ET).

ODU committed nine turnovers in losses at Marshall and James Madison the last two weeks. And while the Monarchs were far from perfect on Saturday, they intercepted two passes that ended first-half App scoring drives, both deep in the red zone, and turned one into a touchdown.

The Monarchs had just one turnover.

The victory came against a program that has historically been the best in the Sun Belt. App State (4-4, 1-3) leads the Sun Belt in attendance, has been to seven bowl games in the last 11 years and has won four Sun Belt titles. App State won three FCS national championships before moving to FBS.

ODU had beaten App State only once in five previous games.

“We played with conviction, and we never trailed in the game,” said Ricky Rahne, ODU’s head coach. “And there’s a lot to be said about that.

“That’s a very good App State team we beat today. They made a great comeback and you have to give them credit for that.

“We found a way to win the game and that was crucial. We made some mistakes. But any time you win a league game, you’re excited.”

ODU led, 10-7, at the half and scored two consecutive touchdowns to take what appeared to be a commanding, 24-7, lead into the fourth quarter.

Both came on passes from quarterback Colton Joseph, a 16-yard toss to Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding and the other a 24-yard pass to Ja’Cory Thomas with just 26 seconds left in the third quarter.

Four minutes into the fourth quarter, ODU was inside the App State 10, headed for what would have been the game-clinching touchdown when the Monarchs committed their only turnover. On third and goal from the six, Joseph tried to squeeze a pass to Abdul-Rahim Gladding. The ball was tipped by App State’s Rondo Porter and fell into the hands of defensive back Zyeir Gamble.

App State coach Dowell Loggains then switched quarterbacks, inserting AJ Swann, a transfer from LSU, for JJ Kohl, and Swann led the Mountaineers to two quick touchdowns.

The first came on a 35-yard pass to tight end Kanen Hamlett with 9:26 left in the game.

ODU then milked six minutes off the clock and again appeared ready to clinch the game, but Riley Callaghan missed a 39-yard field goal attempt with 3:22 left.

Swann then completed 7-of-9 passes on the next drive, which he capped with a 34-yard TD pass to Davion Dozier with 1:47 left that cut the lead to 24-21.

App State then attempted an on-side kick, which was scooped up by Thomas. The Monarchs then ran out the clock.

“We’ve got grit,” said Carter when asked about ODU holding off the App State rally. “We don’t stop until the game is over. We pick each other up. In all three phases, when we make mistakes, we just pick each other up.”

“It’s definitely a great feeling to have won that game,” added Abdul-Rahim Gladding. “It’s good to get back on the winning track. It was a good moral boost but we’ve got to keep going, keep doing what we’ve been doing.”

Joseph completed 21 of 35 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 61 more yards.

Adbul-Rahim Gladding caught a career-high eight passes for 105 yards.

ODU’s defense also played well. A week after surrendering 624 yards at JMU, which tied a school record, the Monarchs held App State to 374 yards and forced two turnovers. Cornerback Zion Frink led ODU with 13 tackles while Nickendre Stiger added seven.

ODU intercepted two Kohl passes, one each by Jerome Carter and Ryan Ramey, the sophomore from Missouri City, Texas who made his first start and had his first career interception.

Things began poorly for ODU on its second possession as App State defensive back DJ Burks picked off a Joseph pass with 8:30 left. However, App State senior defensive back Myles Farmer bailed out the Monarchs by roughing Joseph after the pass.

Farmer was also ejected for targeting, a huge loss for a defense already depleted of depth.

The Monarchs took advantage three plays later as Joseph found Ke’Travion Hargrove over the middle and the senior transfer from Grambling ran the final 40 yards of a 70-yard reception untouched for the touchdown.

ODU led, 7-0, with 8:24 left in the first quarter. 

App quickly scored, but once again, ODU was bailed out by a penalty flag. On third and goal at the five, Kohl threw an apparent TD pass to Dalton Strohman. However, App’s David Larkins was called for pass interference.

Carter then ended the scoring threat by intercepting Kohl in the end zone. It was the third INT of the season for the sophomore safety from Lake City, Florida.

Callaghan booted a 33-yard field goal with 2:10 left in the first half as ODU took a10-0 lead the Monarchs would almost, but not quite, surrender.

ODU led the nation in one-score games the last two seasons but Saturday was the first one-score game for the Monarchs.

“Obviously, a three-point win like this, where we needed to make some plays in order to get the win, that was critical,” Rahne said. “I thought we overcame some adversity and that was something we needed to do. And to me, that’s part of conviction and belief, right?

“You can’t just have belief when things are going well. That’s not belief, right?”

Rahne said he’s not worried about bowl eligibility.

“All I’m worried about is the next game,” he said. “I know Monroe is going to play as physical of a game as humanly possible. They’ve done it over and over and over again.

“It will be a big challenge.”

Notes – Safety Ryan Ramey and cornerback Brandon Crutchfield made their first career starts … Ramey notched his first career interception in the first quarter … Ke’Travion Hargrove caught his second touchdown pass of the season, this one a 70-yarder from Colton Joseph. It was the seventh touchdown of 70+ yards for ODU this season … Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding recorded career highs with eight receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown … Joseph threw for 310 yards and three scores, his second 300-yard game of the season and sixth game with multiple TD passes … Cornerback Zion Frink set a career high with 13 tackles … Ricardo Williams Jr. registered his first sack of the season … ODU broke up a season high eight passes, led by three from Crutchfield.