NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University Football led East Carolina 17-10 at halftime, but ECU scored on an Ayden Duncannon 67-yard interception return and Noah Perez kicked a 24-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give ECU a 20-17 win over Old Dominion on Saturday night at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Old Dominion (1-2) received the second half kickoff and drove into ECU territory after a 41-yard run by Devin Roche. But on third and 18 Quinn Henicle was intercepted by Duncannon and he returned it for a touchdown to tie the score at 17.
The teams would trade punts before ODU had another promising drive going, aided by runs from Henicle and Roche, but Kieran Davis forced a fumble by Roche that Miles Parker recovered at the ECU 32.
East Carolina (1-2) followed with a 12 play, 77-yard drive, helped along by a defensive holding penalty on third and five. Perez kicked the field goal with 9:39 remaining for the eventual winning tally.
The Monarchs got the ball back twice but were only able to muster one first down and ECU ran out the clock.
ECU got on the board first midway through the opening quarter after the Monarchs dropped a punt snap at their own 28. On second down Jason Dickerson took a backawards pass from Emory Williams and found Ja’Keith Hamilton for a 25-yard touchdown to give the Pirates a 7-0 lead.
ODU responded early in the second quarter with a 38-yard Nathanial Eichner field goal. The Monarchs took advantage of a roughing the passer penalty on ECU that wiped out an interception, and on the next play Henicle hit Zialis Blackmon for a 42-yard completion to set up the field goal. It was the first catch of Blackmon’s career.
On the Pirates’ next possession, Emory Williams completed a pass to Kanen Hamlett, but Justin Watts forced a fumble that Daevon Iles recovered and returned it for a 23-yard touchdown.
The ODU defense forced another punt, and Devin Roche returned it 38 yards to the ECU 35. Henicle connected with Kendall Harris for a first down and two plays later Henicle bounded in for an 18-yard touchdown run to give the Monarchs a 17-7 lead.
ECU ended the half by driving 56 yards and cut the lead to 17-10 with a 36-yard Noah Perez field goal.
Henicle completed 8-of-20 passes for 94 yards and the interception. He carried 16 times for 73 yards and a touchdown. Roche rushed for 102 yards on 18 carries.
Mario Thompson led the Monarchs in tackles for the second straight week, registering nine stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Jack Forrest added 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
Notes: Defensive tackle Lorenzo McFadden-Pressley made his first career start … Devin Roche’s 25-yard reception was a career long … Justin Watts forced his first career fumble, while Daevon Iles recovered his first career fumble … Zialis Blackmon caught his first career pass for a gain of 42 yards … Quinn Henicle has rushed for at least one touchdown in all five of his starts … ODU hosts James Madison next Saturday, in what will be the earliest ODU starts Sun Belt Conference play since it played Louisiana in Week two in 2023.