MONARCHS SHAME GREAT DANES

Brian Saunders

Staff Writer

 

The 64th annual Oyster Bowl at S.B. Ballard Stadium proved once again that the Old Dominion University Monarchs are hungry for a winning season.

“This is what I really hoped would happen tonight,” Wilder said.

“Coming off last week where the kids didn’t have much to feel good about themselves, this performance made for a very happy locker room.”

Old Dominion’s defense answered the bell in a dominating 66-10 win over the Albany Great Danes Saturday evening, Sept. 28, at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Quarterback Taylor Heinicke threw for365 passing yards and two touchdowns. The junior completed 28 of 33 attempts in a win that improved the Monarchs to 3-2 on the year.

 

The defense looked stout after coming into the game averaging of 44 points and 524 yards of total opposing offense. Despite giving up 453 rushing yards last week in a disappointing display at home against The Citadel, they stood tall. In what they hope is a sign of things to come only, the Monarchs looked like a completely different run defense, allowing only 96 rushing yards. The passing defense looked improved as well as they got off the field on third downs, wrapped up on tackles and gave up very few yards after catch. By virtue of injuries to starting defensive linemen Nate Barnes and Terrell Reid, head coach Bobby Wilder started true freshman Jude Brenya. This was Brenya’s first game action of his career. After not forcing a punt last week, the Monarchs were able to force several punts from the Great Danes and finally showed their ability to get off the field. The home team won the turnover battle once again, securing two interceptions.

 

Freshman safety Felonte Misher secured one of the two interceptions after fellow safety Malique Johnson deflected a pass thrown by Albany quarterback Will Fiacchi.

 

“We’re not a bad defense. We’ve had some problems that we’ve now fixed,” Misher said after holding the opposing offense to their lowest point total of the season. The Monarchs looked unstoppable on offense as usual. In an offensive package reminiscent of a miniature “Greatest Show on Turf,” ODU got the ball to open the game and in less than three minutes, Heinicke had driven his team down the field, finishing the drive with an eight yard Larry Pinkard touchdown. After a quick 55-yard touchdown completion from Albany quarterback Will Fiacchi to Brian Parker, Heinicke and his offense never looked back scoring five unanswered first-half touchdowns. Heinicke, who eclipsed the 350 yard passing mark yet again, achieved another milestone in doing so he surpassed 9,000 passing yards for his career. His career total now sits at 9,099.

 

Per usual, Heinicke had another efficient game in the air while the Monarchs ran all over the Great Danes to accompany the prominent passing attack.

 

Over the past few weeks, the Monarchs have shown signs of a consistent dual attack and have amassed 224 yards on 47 carries and seven touchdowns on the ground. Redshirt freshman quarterback David Washington lead the balanced rushing attack with 46 rushing yards in the second half. Goodwyn ran for 42 of his own.

 

Freshman Gerard Johnson added 34 yards and, not to be out done, Heinicke chipped in his fair share with 30 yards on the ground.

 

Heinicke also spoke highly of the defense and admitted that it was only a matter of time before they could all get in sync.

 

“They had a lot of criticism going into the game. They’ve been working hard the whole year. It was just a matter of them all putting it together. I feel like today was the first time we all came together and played together as a team,” he said.

 

The Monarchs will look for their fourth straight home victory when the team hosts their annual Homecoming game Saturday, Oct. 5, at 6 p.m. against the Liberty University Flames.