| Old Dominion (2-4, 1-2) vs. Georgia Southern (2-4, 1-1) | |
| Date | Thursday, October 15 • 7:30 p.m. • Norfolk, Va. • S.B. Ballard Stadium |
| Where to Watch | ESPN2 |
| Listen | ODU Sports Network |
| Series | Tied at three |
| Game Notes | Old Dominion Georgia Southern |
NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion University Football returns to S.B. Ballard Stadium to host Georgia Southern in a nationally televised Thursday night contest on October 15 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
The game will be also be broadcast on ESPN Radio 94.1.
• ODU is coming off a 10-3 win at App State.
• Georgia Southern fell 27-24 to James Madison.
• The ODU defense allowed just 158 yards to App State last week, the second fewest in program history and held the Mountaineers to three points. App gained nine yards in the second quarter. The defense also forced three turnovers.
• ODU ran the ball a school record 61 times for 207 yards, as Devin Roche and Quinn Henicle both had career highs in carries. Roche rushed for 101 yards, while Henicle had 88. Maurki James had five carries for 18 yards but scored game’s only touchdown to give ODU the lead.
• Defensive end Javen Gibson had a career game, securing four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Gibson was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
Defense Rock Solid
ODU held App State to 158 yards of total offense, the second fewest yards allowed in program history. ODU allowed 138 yards to Troy in last year’s 33-0 win on Thursday night.
ODU held App State to just 1-for-13 on third down, and the one conversion occured on App State’s final drive of the game.
App State ran just 55 plays, compared to ODU’s 81 snaps.
First Time in 13 Years
App State was held without a touchdown for the first time since a 45-6 loss to Georgia in 2013, and the three points were the fewest scored by the Mountaineers since a 24-0 loss to LSU in 2005.
Gibson Dominates
Defensive end Javen Gibson had four tackles for loss and a pair of sacks in the 10-3 win over App State.
The four tackles for loss were the most in a game this season by a Sun Belt Conference player and tied for the eighth most in a game so far this season.
Gibson is tied for the Sun Belt lead with 8.5 tackles for loss and is fifth with five sacks. He is tied for 10th in the country with the 8.5 tackles for loss.
Sun Belt Tackles for Loss Leaders
| Player | School | Tackles For Loss |
| Javen Gibson | Old Dominion | 8.5 |
| Xavier Esqillion | Georgia State | 8.5 |
| Alonzo Jackson Jr. | Louisiana Tech | 8 |
Top Tier Defense
For the third time this season, ODU’s defense held an opponent under 300 yards of offense and now ranks third in the league in total defense.
ODU also ranks third in the league in opponent third down conversions after allowing App to convert just 1-of-13.
ODU is tied for second in the league in sacks and first in fumbles recovered.
Sun Belt Total Defense
| Team | Total Defense |
| Georgia State | 301 |
| Louisiana | 303.5 |
| Old Dominion | 324.1 |
Pound the Rock
It rained the entire game against App State, and the plan was to run the ball. ODU ran the ball a school record 61 times for 207 yards.
The 61 runs were the fifth most this season by a non-academy team.
Devin Roche had a career high 23 attempts and Quinn Henicle had a career high 26 carries.
Most First Time Starts
ODU is tied for fourth with 14 players that have made their first career starts.
First Time Starters
| Rank | FIrst Time Starters | Team |
| 1. | 18 | Navy |
| 2. | 17 | East Carolina |
| 3. | 16 | Hawai'i |
| 4. | 14 | Old Dominion |
| 14 | Georgia Southern |
Taylor Heinicke Jersey Retirement
Former ODU quarterback Taylor Heinicke will have his jersey retired at the end of the first quarter. Heinicke won the 2012 Walter Payton Award as the Best Player in FCS and earned First Team All-America honors. He led ODU's transition to FBS and is in the top 10 all-time in Division I with 14,959 passing yards and 132 touchdown passes.
A special Taylor Heinicke Jersey Retirement Clothing Collection has been released and available for a limited time. Click here to check out the collection.
Mudslide Mania
Head Coach Ricky Rahne's slide down Miller Hill following Saturday's win at App State went viral, and now there is a t-shirt. Click here to purchase the shirt.
Up Next
ODU plays at Sun Belt newcomer Lousiana Tech on Saturday, Oct. 24.