Gardner-Webb Drops 14-7 Decision At Old Dominion
October 03, 2010 | Football
NORFOLK, Va. - Old Dominion got a five-yard touchdown run from quarterback Thomas DeMarco with 3:42 to play Saturday, and Gardner-Webb could not answer in a 14-7 loss to the Monarchs at Foreman Field.
Gardner-Webb (2-3) got the ball back with time to mount a drive, but lost four yards on a first down run and punted with less than three minutes to play. Old Dominion (3-2) returned the punt deep into Runnin' Bulldog territory, and picked up a pair of first downs before running out the clock at the GWU 16.
The loss was the third in a row for the Runnin' Bulldogs, a stretch that has seen the 'Dogs average just over 11 points per game - after scoring a season-high 38 in a win at Akron on September 11.
Old Dominion's (3-2) took an early lead in the game, covering 73 yards on nine plays, with a key mistake giving the Monarchs first-and-goal at the GWU four. The Runnin' Bulldogs had stopped ODU on third down, but a roughing the passer foul kept the touchdown drive alive. Mario Crawford got the ball into the end zone from there.
The Monarchs recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but Gardner-Webb negated the possession when Cedric McGowan picked off a first-down pass at the GWU 35-yard line.
GWU promptly drove inside the Monarchs' 10, but Ryan Gates' 27-yard field attempt was blocked.
The defense held for Gardner-Webb, however, and a 32-yard punt return by James Perry III put GWU back in business at the ODU 36-yard line., Freshman receiver Richard Jules capped the scoring drive, taking a direct snap out of a wildcat formation from the 9-yard line and dashed into the end zone with 1:36 left in the first quarter - knotting the score at 7-7.
Neither team would threaten the rest of the half, with Gardner-Webb driving to the ODU 40-yard line with less than a minute to play before intermission before punting.
The third quarter was fruitless for both offenses, as Old Dominion turned over its first drive on a fumble in GWU territory. Both defenses kept punters Graham Purvis (GWU) and Jonathan Plisco (ODU) busy, with each taking turns pinning the offenses deep.
The punting game swung momentum in the fourth quarter in the Monarchs' favor. Plisco's eighth punt of the night carried 59 yards and pinned GWU at its 15-yard line - and the ensuing Gardner-Webb punt was a line drive that Old Dominion's Monty Smalley returned 32 yards to the GWU 20.
Three plays later, quarterback Thomas DeMarco kept and dove in for a five-yard touchdown run that proved to be the difference in the game with 3:42 on the clock.
Gardner-Webb was held to 203 yards offensively, although the 'Dogs held the football for 35:06 and converted eight of its first 15 chances on third down.
The Runnin' Bulldogs held the nation's seventh-rated passing attack to just 141 yards (15/33, 4.3 yards per completion), but saw the Monarchs' punter prove to be the difference in the final outcome.
Plisco punted eight times for an average of 47.3 yards per kick, uncorked a pair of 59-yarders and pinned GWU inside the 20-yard line five times.
Chandler Browning made his first career start under center for GWU, and hit on eight of his first 10 passes. Browning completed 15-of-30 throws for 130 yards with no turnovers, but fell victim to five sacks in the game. Patrick Hall finished with 53 yards on 23 carries, and Juanne Blount had 47 yards on 13 attempts to pace the ground game.
Perry had nine catches for 84 yards for Gardner-Webb. McGowan led the defense with seven hits, a tackle for loss and an interception. Jeffery Williams and Evan Short each had sacks.
Gardner-Webb will have an open date before beginning Big South Conference play on October 16 at Charleston Southern. Kickoff for that game is set for 1:30 pm and will air on ESPN3.com (video stream).
