MONARCHS DELIVER HISTORIC STUNNER
NORFOLK — Virginia Tech has fielded a football team since 1892, and its history includes mind-bending losses to the likes of Temple (1998) and James Madison (2010).
Old Dominion revived football in 2009, and its relative infancy included nothing like Saturday. Absolutely, positively nothing.
Monarchs 49,
Hokies 35.
Had they been permitted, ODU faithful would have started November’s planned razing of Ballard Stadium a couple months early.
There are seasons and games in sports that defy logic. This was one of those moments.
As the Monarchs fan seated just below the press box said to me as the clock wound down: “Wow.”
Wow, indeed.
The only number that computed was 20,532, the record crowd that shoehorned into the decrepit venue for the Hokies’ first Hampton Roads appearance since 1986. Otherwise, this was homo sapien-bitescanine stuff.
Tech was undefeated and ranked 13th nationally. ODU was winless and a fourtouchdown underdog.
Punctuating the expected beatdown: The Hokies smothered the Monarchs 38-0 a year ago in Blacksburg.
Blake LaRussa did not attempt a pass in that contest as thenfreshman Steven Williams took over the starting quarterback role.
LaRussa remained No. 2 on the depth chart as Saturday dawned, but after ODU went three-andout on its opening possession, Monarchs coach Bobby Wilder turned to LaRussa — with the offense pinned at the 1-yard line.
All LaRussa did on his first snap was throw a 30-yard strike to Travis Fulgham, an aggressive call that was also a precursor.
LaRussa passed for 495 yards and four touchdowns. Fulgham caught nine of those throws for 188 yards and a score.
The Hokies (2-1) limited the Monarchs (1-3) to 149 yards last season. This year, ODU had 188 early in the second quarter Saturday, 298 at halftime and 632 for the game.
Tech was, in short, helpless, sloppy and undisciplined. The Monarchs were anything but.
ODU did not turn the ball over and committed only two penalties. The Hokies were flagged seven times for 95 yards.
The poise Tech displayed Labor Day night at Florida State vanished as the Monarchs stubbornly refused to blink.
One penalty that didn’t make the stat sheet was telling.
With the score tied at 35, LaRussa connected with Jonathan Duhart for 29 yards and the winning touchdown. This despite pass interference on the Hokies’ Bryce Watts.
Tech played the final 12:41 without quarterback Josh Jackson, who had to be helped from the field with what appeared to be a painful left-ankle sprain. Ryan Willis performed admirably in relief, but no quarterback shy of Aaron Rodgers was going to overcome the Hokies’ defense.
With LaRussa sparking memories of program icon Taylor Heinicke, the Monarchs scored touchdowns on four of their final five possessions.
Most troubling for Tech and encouraging for ODU: big plays.
The Monarchs’ longest gain last year against the Hokies was 17 yards. They had seven plays of more than 17 yards — in the first half alone.
LaRussa completed 30 passes, and the most impressive may get lost in the shock and celebration.
It was midway through the second quarter on a first down from Tech’s 44. An instant before Houshun Gaines and Rico Kearney planted him into the turf, LaRussa connected with Duhart for 25 yards.
ODU didn’t score on the drive, but I’ll bet you Wilder’s next paycheck that LaRussa’s teammates and coaches noticed and admired the moxie that throw demanded.
When the Hokies kicked off to Old Dominion at 3:30 p.m., few Monarchs could have believed. But the longer they stayed close — the Hokies’ largest lead was seven points — the more they believed. Players, coaches, fans.
And even with thousands of Hokies in the crowd, the chant began to echo as the outcome became more and more certain. “ODU, ODU, ODU.”
The Monarchs began Saturday 0-9 against opponents from Power Five conferences. The closest margin was 11 points.
Now this, an unthinkable — to most — result that brings unexpected juice to a series scheduled to continue 11 of the next 13 seasons.
The first home game of ODU football’s rebirth was Sept. 5,
2009 as the Monarchs defeated Division II Chowan. Modest history, to be sure.
And a mere asterisk compared to Saturday.