Story and photo courtesy of Old Dominion
ATLANTA, Ga. - Old Dominion stormed out to a 32-0 halftime lead on the way to a 53-27 victory Saturday evening at the Georgia Dome.
ODU put up two touchdowns in the first quarter and two more in the second to go along with a Jarod Brown field goal to the half.
The Monarchs drove the opening kickoff down the field with ease, going 67 yards in nine plays capped by a Taylor Heinicke to Marquel Thomas nine-yard touchdown pass. Heinicke rolled to the right and found Thomas just across the goal line for the score. Nate Ong flipped a pass to Kai Blanco for the two-point conversion to put ODU on top 8-0.
After Alex Johnson forced and recovered a GSU fumble, Tyree Lee capped a 34 yard drive in just four plays on an 11-yard rush to give ODU a 15-0 lead.
ODU started the second quarter with a one-yard Angus Harper TD run, capping off a 69 yard drive in just five plays, as the drive was highlighted by a Heinicke to Larry Pinkard 34-yard pass play.
Pinkard increased ODU's lead to 29-0 at the five minute mark of the first half after Devon Simmons intercepted a Ben McLane pass at the GSU 29. Heinicke hit Pinkard from four-yards out with a lob pass over the defender.
The Monarchs ended the half with three more points as Craig Wilkins picked off a McLane pass at the 50 and returned it all the way to the GSU 16 to set up a Jarod Brown 28-yard field goal to give ODU its 32-0 halftime advantage.
Georgia State drove the opening kickoff of the second half 80 yards in 11 plays capped by a Rosevelt Watson score to get on the board but ODU responded with a Heinicke to Mayers score to increase the lead to 39-14.
Tyree Lee pushed ODU's lead to 46-14 but Albert Wilson returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards to make the score 46-21.
Angus Harper added a seven-yard TD run with two minutes to go for the final margin.
Heinicke was 28-of-42 in the air with three touchdowns while Marquel Thomas caught a career-high six passes for 72-yards and a TD while Larry Pinkard had six catches for 92-yards and a score.
Tyree Lee carried a career-high 25 times for 126 yards, just two yards shy of his career-high that he set just last week.
McLane was 13-of-32 for GSU for 226 yards and a TD.
John Darr had a team-best six tackles while Devon Simmons and Craig Wilkins recorded interceptions. Simmons' INT was his second-straight game with one and he is ODU's all-time leader with nine.
Old Dominion returns home next week to host William and Mary. The Monarchs will honor their 18 seniors in a pregame ceremony.