On Saturday, ODU Football secured a 21-14 victory over Georgia State in Atlanta, marking their first Sun Belt Victory of the season and their second overall win of the year.
The offense, led by Freshman Quarterback Colton Joseph, demonstrated prowess as he delivered another strong performance. Joseph, who made his second consecutive start against Georgia State, completed 14 of 23 pass attempts, accumulating 141 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Additionally, he showcased his versatility by gaining 98 yards on the ground from 11 attempts.
In the opening stages of the game, both teams struggled to make significant offensive progress, resulting in five consecutive punts during the first quarter. The Monarchs broke the deadlock with a nine-play, 78-yard drive culminating in a 4-yard rushing touchdown from Freshman running back Devin Roche, giving them a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The momentum shifted in the second quarter as Georgia State responded with a nine-play, 75-yard drive, resulting in a 20-yard passing touchdown from Junior QB Christian Veilleux to Junior wideout Ted Hurst, leveling the score at 7-7. Despite subsequent punts from both teams, Georgia State had an opportunity to take the lead but missed a 34-yard field goal, resulting in a 7-7 tie at halftime.
The third quarter commenced with both teams struggling to advance, including an interception thrown by Colton Joseph. The Monarchs’ defense held strong, stopping the Panthers on a 4th down play and enabling their offense to capitalize on good field position with a 10-play, 59-yard touchdown drive, extending their lead to 14-7. The Monarchs further solidified their position with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Colton Joseph to Senior wideout Demariyon Houston, securing a 21-7 lead.
As the game neared its conclusion, the Panthers managed to close the gap with a 24-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 21-14. Despite a successful onside kick and an attempt to tie the game, the Panthers’ prospects were dashed when Junior DE Kris Trinidad strip-sacked the Panthers’ quarterback, ultimately securing a 21-14 victory for the Monarchs, marking their second win of the season.
The Monarch defense effectively limited the Panthers to only 2 touchdowns. This achievement was the result of a collective effort from every player on the defensive team, with notable contributions from DE Kris Trinidad, whose crucial plays prevented the Georgia State offense from equalizing the game. Additionally, DB Angelo Rankin Jr. intercepted the ball in the 4th Quarter and led the Monarch’s defense in tackles with 7.
These defensive efforts allowed the Monarch offense, led by freshman QB Colton Joseph, to control the game with 33 minutes of possession time and 42 rushing attempts. The combined performance of both offensive and defensive units has placed the Monarchs back on track to revive their season and secure their first SBC win.
In a gritty contest where defense reigned supreme, ODU head coach Ricky Rahne praised his team’s resilience and defensive strategy.
“(Defensive coordinator) Blake Seiler called a great game,” Rahne stated. “And our guys played hard. I wouldn’t say it was a pretty game on offense. We didn’t execute the way we needed to over long stretches. But when we really needed to make plays, we did.”
Next up for the Monarchs are back at home next weekend and will host the 4-2 Texas State Bobcats who have won their last two games against Troy and Arkansas State. Catch the game on Saturday at S.B. Ballard Stadium with kick-off slated for 3:30 p.m.
