During the closing moments of the game, ODU junior quarterback Grant Wilson was tackled in bounds with eight seconds left on the clock. As a result, the Monarchs were unable to regroup quickly enough to spike the ball, leading to the expiration of time and a 20-14 victory for East Carolina on Saturday. This defeat marked the second consecutive week in which mistakes proved costly for the Monarchs.
S.B. Ballard Stadium hosted a jubilant sellout crowd of 21,944 spectators as Old Dominion and East Carolina clashed for the fifth time in their series. The outcome extended the Pirates’ victorious record against ODU to 5-0.
Off the opening kickoff, ECU initiated an impressive drive with 10 plays spanning 80 yards, culminating in a 20-yard touchdown run by RahJai Harris. However, the subsequent PAT kick hit the right upright, leaving the score at 6-0. Subsequently, both defensive units demonstrated resilience, and the game largely revolved around field position for the duration of the first quarter.
As the second quarter commenced, the Pirates regained possession and engineered a promising drive, advancing deep into ODU’s territory. On a critical 3rd and 6 from the ODU 26-yard line, ECU quarterback Jake Garcia’s pass was intercepted by junior safety Jahron Manning, who returned the ball 45 yards into Pirates territory.
Capitalizing on the turnover, ODU’s offense, led by Wilson, found its momentum and scored immediately. On the first down, Wilson successfully navigated through his progressions and connected with junior WR Kelby Williams for a 44-yard touchdown pass, handing ODU a 7-6 lead.
The second quarter featured a flurry of interceptions, with three turnovers occurring in rapid succession. Both Garcia and Wilson contributed to the turnover spree by throwing interceptions to sophomore Patrick Smith-Young, senior Will Jones II, and ECU’s Shavon Revil Jr. As the half drew to a close, ECU had an opportunity to take the lead but ran out of time, allowing ODU to maintain a 7-6 lead into halftime. Remarkably, the Monarchs accumulated three interceptions in the first half, marking their highest tally since 2009.
In the opening possession of the second half, Old Dominion failed to capitalize offensively as they punted the ball away after five plays. Subsequently, on the following drive by the Pirates, Harris sprinted for another rushing touchdown, this time from 63 yards, extending their lead to 12-7. ECU successfully executed a two-point conversion, bringing the score to 14-7.
After a fumble on the ensuing kickoff from ODU junior RB Bryce Duke, East Carolina gained possession in a favorable field position and secured a 33-yard field goal, increasing their lead to 17-7. In response to their crucial error, the Monarchs orchestrated a critical 13-play, 75-yard drive, culminating in a touchdown. Senior RB Aaron Young crossed the goal line on a 1-yard wildcat formation play, reducing the Pirate lead to 3.
Approaching the end of the third quarter, East Carolina University mounted another promising drive, advancing deep into ODU territory. However, Garcia’s pass was intercepted for the fourth time in the game, this time by Manning for a second time. The score stood at 17-14 in favor of the Pirates after three quarters.
While the Monarchs had several opportunities to mount a potential game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, their stagnant offensive strategy thwarted any chances. Ultimately, ECU extended their lead to 20-14 with a 50-yard field goal. Late in the game, it seemed as though Old Dominion had found a way to tie the game once more, as senior wide receiver Isiah Paige returned a punt for a touchdown. However, the play was called back due to an illegal block in the back penalty, which dashed any chance for ODU to secure a victory in their home opener.
ODU was outgained, 466-287 yards, and often hurt themselves with uncharacteristic penalties. ODU had 10 penalties for 95 yards, with half of them being called for holding. Wilson threw for one touchdown, totaling 192 yards and completing 20 of 32 passes. Young finished the game with 83 rushing yards on 25 carries. Williams caught two receptions for 52 yards, including his 44-yard TD. Sophomore linebacker Koa Naotala, who started in place of the injured All-American linebacker Jason Henderson, had a career-high 18 tackles against ECU.
In a game where opportunities to capitalize on turnovers were plentiful, Old Dominion’s head coach Ricky Rahne expressed frustration over missed chances.
“When you take the ball away four times, you’re going to have the opportunity to have good field position and we didn’t take advantage of it. That’s unfortunate, to say the least,” Rahne stated.
Next up for the Monarchs features a significant matchup against the Virginia Tech Hokies, a game that ODU supporters have eagerly anticipated since the schedule was announced. With the Hokies holding a slight 3-2 edge in this rivalry, the home team has emerged victorious in every encounter. Old Dominion will have the advantage of playing at home next weekend, with a sold-out S.B. Ballard Stadium expected to create an electrifying atmosphere from the opening kickoff. Game time is slated for 6 p.m.
