San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Dream becomes reality in big upset
NORFOLK, Va. — Even with a backup quarterback pressed into action, the reality for Old Dominion matched their imagination.
Blake LaRussa came off the bench to throw for 495 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Monarchs to a 49-35 win over No. 13 Virginia Tech on Saturday in the Hokies’ first game at the crossstate school that restarted its football program in 2009.
“At night when you dream about this game, this is what you picture,” Old Dominion wide receiver Travis Fulgham said.
LaRussa, who entered the game on his team’s second series, completed 30 of 49 passes and rushed for a touchdown to lead the 27½-point underdog Monarchs (1-3) past the Hokies (2-1).
Jeremy Cox’s 40-yard touchdown run with 1:34 remaining sealed the biggest win in program history. After the game, Old Dominion fans stormed the field. Longtime Monarchs coach Bobby Wilder called it “one of the biggest moments in Hampton Roads sports history.”
The Hokies led 28-21 after a 72-yard touchdown pass from Josh Jackson to Damon Hazelton with 32 seconds left in the third quarter, but Old Dominion scored on its next two possessions, taking a 35-28 lead on a 15-yard touchdown run by Cox with 9:57 to go — the Monarchs’ nine-game losing streak to the Cowboys (3-1, 0-1).
Texas 31, #17 TCU 16: Sam Ehlinger passed for two touchdowns and ran for a score, all in the second half, and the host Longhorns (3-1, 1-0 Big 12)) ended a four-game losing streak to the Horned Frogs (2-2, 0-1).
#18 Wisconsin 28, Iowa 17: Alex Hornibrook threw a 17-yard TD pass to A.J. Taylor with 57 seconds left and the visiting Badgers (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten) bounced back from a home loss to BYU by rallying past the Hawkeyes (3-1, 0-1).
#19 Michigan 56, Nebraska 10: Karan Higdon ran for 136 yards and a touchdown in the first half for the Wolverines (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten), who led 20-0 after the first quarter and 39-0 at halftime in sending the Cornhuskers (0-3, 0-1) to their worst start since 1945.
#21 Miami 31, Florida International 17: N’Kosi Perry came off the bench to throw three touchdown passes, and the defense was airtight for most of the day for the host Hurricanes (3-1) against the Golden Panthers (2-2).
Purdue 30, #23 Boston College 13: Rondale Moore first lead.
Things got worse for Virginia Tech, as Jackson went down with a lower leg injury on the first play of the ensuing drive. Backup quarterback Ryan Willis led the Hokies on a 75-yard march that ended with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cunningham with 7:15 remaining, tying the game at 35.
But the Hokies simply could not stop Old Dominion. LaRussa polished off a 75-yard drive with a 29-yard pass to Jonathan Duhart for a touchdown with 5:11 left that was the game winner.
Led by LaRussa and Cox (130 yards), Old Dominion finished with 632 yards of total offense against a Virginia Tech team that has prided itself on defense for decades under coordinator Bud Foster.
Steven Peoples paced the Hokies with 156 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Jackson threw two touchdown passes before leaving with the injury.
Jimmy Robertson is an Associated Press writer. caught two touchdown passes and the host Boilermakers (1-3) picked off four passes against the Eagles (3-1).
#24 Michigan State 35, Indiana 21: Brian Lewerke threw two touchdown passes, had his first career catch and made the perfect pitch to kicker Matt Coghlin for a 6-yard scoring run as the Spartans (2-1, 1-0 Big Ten) beat the host Hoosiers (3-1, 0-1).
#25 BYU 30, McNeese State 3: Freshmen Lopini Katoa ran for two touchdowns, Skyler Southam kicked three field goals and the host Cougars (3-1) took advantage of second-quarter mistakes by the Cowboys (3-1).
Arizona 35, Oregon State 14: J.J. Taylor rushed for a Reser Stadium-record 284 yards and two touchdowns as the Wildcats (2-2, 1-0 Pac-12) ran wild against the host Beavers (1-3, 0-1). Butte 42, CCSF 21: CCSF (3-1) was outscored 22-0 in the fourth quarter by Butte (3-1). Rams quarterback Jack Newman was sacked 11 times but also threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns.