Despite a first half consisting of 641 total yards of offense and eight touchdowns, Old Dominion football was unable to keep its momentum, falling to in-state rival James Madison 63-27 as part of the Townesbank Royal Rivalry.
Entering the game, the Monarchs held a 4-2 overall record with a 1-1 Sun Belt Conference record after losing to Marshall on the road last weekend, 48-24. James Madison held a 5-1 record and was the lone team at the top of the SBC East Division with a 3-0 record.
The first quarter blew fans away from both sides of the field, as the game kicked off with a muffed punt from JMU, resulting in a three-yard Monarch touchdown. James Madison then responded quickly on their next drive, as quarterback Alonza Barnett III rushed up the middle for a 58-yard touchdown to tie the score. Their punt put ODU quarterback Colton Joseph in his own end zone, though on the first snap he connected with Tre Brown for a program record 98-yard touchdown. The Dukes did not falter, however, with Barnett III throwing to Nick Degennaro for a 65-yard touchdown in response. To end the quarter, Brown had yet another touchdown, this one for 11-yards, though the extra point was wide, giving ODU a 20-14 lead.
James Madison opened the second quarter on a better note, as Barnett III found Degennaro for a seven-yard touchdown, giving the Dukes their first lead of the day. Touchdowns continued to be exchanged, though after Joseph found Dawson Johnson for a 16-yard touchdown, Old Dominion earned their final of the game. JMU regained their lead minutes later, as Jordan Fuller rushed up the middle for a two-yard touchdown, entering halftime up 28-27.
The Monarchs were shut out for the remainder of the game, as JMU scored three times in the third quarter. The first came from Wayne Knight, who ran for a 13-yard touchdown, before Barnett III rushed twice for his own touchdowns, one for six-yards and the other for three, bringing the score up to 49-27.
Barnett III continued his momentum with a scrappy eight-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter. He would soon be replaced by backup quarterback Matthew Sluka, who accounted for the last touchdown of the game for the Dukes after connecting with Za’Ron Collins for an 18-yard touchdown to end the game by a 63-27 final.
James Madison had 625 yards, 313 pass and 311 rush, to Old Dominion’s 285, where 209 were passing and just 76 were rushing. ODU did lead in tackles for loss with nine to JMU’s three, as well as sacks with three to JMU’s two.
Joseph ended the game 13 for 21 with 209 yards and three touchdowns, though he also had two interceptions. Brown led the Monarchs in receiving yards and scoring with 138 yards and two touchdowns. Na’eem Abdul-Rahim Gladding followed suit with 47 receiving yards, while Devin Roche led the way for rushing yards with 34 on seven attempts.
Old Dominion returns home next weekend for its homecoming game against Appalachian State on Saturday, Oct. 25 at noon. The Mountaineers are 4-3 overall with a 1-2 SBC record after falling to Coastal Carolina at home on Oct. 18, 45-37.
