CHARLOTTE – Old Dominion started
out strong and never let up, cruising to a 52-17 victory over the Charlotte
49ers on a cool Saturday night at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
Former Southeast Raleigh standout
David Washington returned to his home state and passed for 256 yards and 3
scores to lead a Monarch offense that never trailed and led 31-10 at the half.
Washington hit eight different receivers on 14 of 25 passing in his three
quarters of play.
ODU took off in the first half,
scoring touchdowns on four straight drives with the longest drive lasting only
2:14. Former South View star Jeremy Cox scored the first two touchdowns of the
evening, each time finding the end zone from yard out. Cox added another
one-yard score in the third quarter to establish a new career high.
Even when ODU tried to help the
49ers with great field position after Alex Duncan recovered a muffed punt late
in the first quarter, the Charlotte offense was only able to muster three
points off a Stephen Muscarello field goal.
Charlotte got a jolt at the end
of the first half when Kevin Olsen hit Kalif Phillips with a short pass, and Phillips
did the rest, juking his way past two defenders on his way to a forty-two-yard
touchdown. Phillips’ score, only the second receiving touchdown of his career
and fortieth overall, ended up being the 49ers only touchdown of the night
until Hasaan Klugh scored on a quarterback-keeper late in the fourth quarter.
North Carolina players were on
fire for Old Dominion on Saturday night. While David Washington and Jeremy Cox
were lighting up the scoreboard for the Monarchs, defensive ends Tim Ward of High
Point Central and Oshane Ximines of Hertford each recovered fumbles for the Old
Dominion defense in the second half.
In light of the current events that have impacted the
Charlotte area and the nation, Charlotte and Old Dominion players gathered in a
circle of unity before the game started. The display garnered a sustained standing
ovation from the crowd of thousands.
Charlotte (1-4, 0-1 C-USA) travels to Boca Raton to take on
Florida Atlantic next week while Old Dominion (3-2, 2-0 C-USA) hosts UMass.
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