ODU PULLS OFF HISTORIC UPSET
Old Dominion exults while Hokies are left dazed in visit to ODU
Monarch quarterback Blake LaRussa blistered Virginia Tech with 495 yards passing and four touchdowns and Jeremy Cox topped the 100-yard mark on the ground as Old Dominion stunned the heavily favored Hokies in Norfolk.
NORFOLK — It was supposed to be a Hokie-centric celebration of all things 757-related Saturday in Norfolk.
As a 28.5-point underdog, Old Dominion appeared to be little more than an obliging host.
Not even close. A nightmare scenario awaited No. 13 Virginia Tech, while ODU reveled in the biggest win in the 10th year of the program’s revival, claiming a stunning 49-35 victory.
ODU (1-3) rolled for 632 yards, including 495 passing from quarterback Blake LaRussa, who completed 30 of 49 passes. The last time Tech gave up more than 600 yards was Nov. 9, 2002, when Syracuse had 604 yards in a three-overtime victory against the Hokies.
Since the start of the 1987 season, Tech (2-1, 1-0 ACC) has only given up more than 495 passing yards once. In 1993, Maryland’s Scott Milanovich had 498 yards.
Making matters worse for Tech, which had 600 yards, quarterback Josh Jackson suffered an ankle injury early in the fourth quarter that took him out for the game. Jackson finished 8-of-16 passing for 151 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Long before ODU running back Jeremy Cox capped the scoring with a 40-yard touchdown run with 1:34 remaining, the Monarchs had proven they were the better team for at least one day.
Tech looked ready to set the tone for the
day on its second drive. Running back Steven Peoples, who had 20 carries for 156 yards and two touchdowns, ran 87 yards for a touchdown, putting Tech up 7-0 with 10:14 remaining in the first quarter.
ODU wasn’t about to wilt after the quick score.
LaRussa completed a 37-yard pass on second-and-8 to wide receiver Hasaan Patterson, who beat cornerback Bryce Watts, to move ODU to Tech’s 16. Two plays later, LaRussa found receiver Jonathan Duhart working in the end zone against cornerback Caleb Farley, and connected with Duhart for a 14-yard touchdown pass to tie the game with 7:38 remaining in the first quarter.
Jackson was hounded in the first quarter. He was sacked three times, including twice by defensive end Oshane Ximines, and completed just 1 of 4 passes for 2 yards.
Jackson bounced back a bit in the second quarter, helping Tech regain the lead. With 9:14 remaining in the quarter, Tech took over at its own 45 after a punt. Jackson hit wide-open receiver Sean Savoy in the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown pass to give Tech a 14-7 advantage with 7:42 left in the half
Not to be outdone, ODU answered once again.
Redshirt freshman cornerback Geronda Hall logged his first career interception when he picked off Jackson with 1:39 left in the second quarter at ODU’s 21. It was also Jackson’s first interception of the season.
With Tech getting the ball back to open the third quarter, ODU needed to make something happen on the drive after Hall’s interception. It did.
ODU went 79 yards in nine plays, converting a fourth-and-1 from Tech’s 16 via a 12-yard pass from LaRussa to Duhart in the process, and found the end zone. LaRussa capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Duhart with seven seconds remaining in the half, knotting the game 14-14.
Tech went back to the ground early in the third quarter. Peoples had the most spectacular run of the drive.
On third-and-1 from ODU’s 21, Peoples broke four tackles on his way to the 1. He scored on a 1-yard touchdown run on the next play.
Once again, ODU responded with a tying score. After completing passes of 23 and 27 yards to receivers Darrell Brown and Isaiah Harper, respectively, to help get the Monarchs down to the Hokies’ 1, LaRussa scored on a play-action keeper with 3:40 left in the third quarter to tie it at 21.
One of ODU’s biggest hiccups came late in the third quarter. Covering wide receiver Damon Hazelton, Hall slipped and fell, resulting in a 72-yard touchdown connection from Jackson with 32 seconds remaining in the quarter to propel Tech into a 28-21 lead.
In keeping with the theme of the day, ODU marched right back up the field on its next possession. LaRussa completed passes of 26 and 25 yards to Fulgham — the latter of which went for a touchdown when Fulgham got behind safety Khalil Ladler with 12:55 left, tying the game again.
Disaster struck for Tech and Jackson on the Hokies’ next drive. Jackson suffered a left ankle injury with 12:41 remaining, ending his day. He hobbled off the field with assistance from trainers, was carted off the sideline and later appeared on the sideline on crutches with a boot on his left foot.
Tech’s drive ended with a punt, and ODU went right back to work. Cox highlighted a five-play, 67yard drive by breaking three tackles on his way to scoring a 15-yard touchdown, giving the Monarchs a 35-28 edge with 9:57 remaining.
Backup quarterback Ryan Willis took over under center for Tech and immediately got in a groove, but the Hokies still had to stare down fourth-and-3 from ODU’s 13.
Lining up in a pistol formation, Willis completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cunningham with 7:15 remaining, tying the game 35-35.
As deflating as Tech’s fourthdown touchdown could’ve been for ODU, the Monarchs persevered one more time. LaRussa split Watts and safety Reggie Floyd in the end zone with a 29-yard touchdown pass to Duhart with 5:11 left, sending the crowd into a frenzy as ODU went back up 42-35.
Tech drove to ODU’s 21 before stalling. Facing fourth-and-4, Willis spotted Hazelton wide open beyond the first-down marker, but Hazelton dropped a pass with 2:33 left to give possession back to ODU and set up Cox’s clincher.