Norfolk, Va. – The Old Dominion Monarchs entered Thursday night’s Sun Belt contest with confidence, having posted solid performances on the primetime stage the past two seasons. Instead, the Eagles seized control early and never looked back, defeating the Monarchs 23‑15 at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
Early promise, then costly penalties
Old Dominion opened the game with a bang, marching down the field on its first drive and connecting quarterback Quinn Henicle with Leon Haughton Jr. for a 20‑yard touchdown pass. The early score suggested the Monarchs might repeat their recent success.
However, the momentum shifted when the Eagles forced a three‑and‑out and the Monarchs were flagged for roughing the kicker. The penalty gave Georgia Southern a fresh set of downs. A later pass‑interference call on the Monarchs’ drive further extended the Eagles’ life, and Terrance Gibbs capped the sequence with an 11‑yard touchdown rush to tie the game.
The Monarchs finished the first half with 12 penalties totaling 100 yards, a factor that repeatedly stalled their drives.
Second half dominance by Georgia Southern
Three field goals left Old Dominion trailing 16‑7 at halftime. In the third quarter, Georgia Southern widened the gap when Turner Helton threw a touchdown pass to Gibbs, pushing the lead to 23‑7.
Old Dominion rallied in the fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Ryan Huff, who replaced Henicle after the starter suffered an awkward tackle on a nine‑yard rush, delivered a 71‑yard touchdown pass to T.J. Johnson. The Monarchs added a two‑point conversion, narrowing the deficit to a single possession.
Despite the late surge, the Monarchs’ defense could not hold the Eagles. With 1:51 remaining, Old Dominion’s defense forced a stop, but a sack‑fumble gave Georgia Southern the ball back, allowing the Eagles to run out the clock and seal the victory.
Statistical snapshot
- Old Dominion total offense: 266 yards
- Rushing yards: 65 (Maurki James led with 29 yards on four carries)
- Passing: Henicle 6‑10 for 86 yards; Huff 9‑14 for 115 yards and a touchdown
- Penalties: 12 for 100 yards
Looking ahead
The loss drops the Monarchs to 2‑5 overall and 1‑3 in Sun Belt play under head coach Ricky Rahne. Old Dominion will travel to Louisiana Tech on October 24 for its next matchup, hoping to rebound and improve its conference standing.
Georgia Southern, meanwhile, builds on its strong defensive performance and capitalizes on opponent mistakes, positioning itself as a contender in the Sun Belt race.
Original reporting: WTKR News 3 (Scripps) – local — read the source article.
