10/25/2009 6:00:36 PM
SAVANNAH, Ga.- Thomas DeMarco threw for 198 yards and three touchdowns to lead Old Dominion to a 38-17 win over Savannah State at T. A. Wright Stadium before a crowd of 2,743.
The loss drops SSU to 1-6 and extends their losing streak to six games.
Mario Crawford ran for 102 yards and a touchdown and Chris Lovitt caught five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown for ODU. Michael Colbert led the Monarchs defense with 10 tackles.
Old Dominion scored on their first possession of the game as DeMarcco tossed a five-yard scoring pass to M.E. Williams with 10:44 on the clock. Drew Hareza kicked the extra point for a 7-0 advantage.
ODU went ahead 10-0 with 5:28 left in the second on Hareza's 29 yard field goal.
Following a interception of a Kurvin Curry pass by ODU's Mateus Porter with under two minutes left in the half, the Monarchs marched 42 yards in six plays to extend their lead to 17-0 when Lovitt caught a 25 yard touchdown pass from DeMarco.
SSU's offense did not cross mid-field in the first half and were limited to just 66 yards.
The Tigers took the second half kickoff and drove 81 yards in nine plays as Deleon Hollinger caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Curry with 11:55 on the clock. It was Hollinger's first touchdown catch of the season. Derek Williams booted the extra point to slice SSU's deficit to 17-7. The key play on the drive was a 17 yard reception by Javares Taylor.
Old Dominion answered SSU when Crawford scampered 32 yards for a touchdown with 8:48 left in the third quarter for a 24-7 lead.
A 37 yard touchdown pass from DeMarco to Carlos Davis on their next drive put ODU up 31-7 with 4:58 on the clock.
Savannah State's next drive stalled inside the Monarchs 30 yard line but Williams was able to convert a 46 yard field goal, a career-high, to make the score 31-10 with 1:41 left in the third quarter. Curry had a 23 yard run on the drive.
Early in the fourth quarter, SSU's drive stalled at the Old Dominion 28. The Tigers faked a field goal attempt and A.J. DeFilippis' pass was picked off by the Monarchs A.T. Aoelua and he raced 77 yards for the touchdown and a 38-10 lead.
After trading punts, SSU mounted a 13 play, 74 yard drive that was capped when Hollinger hauled in a four yard touchdown pass from Curry with 5:37 left in the game. The key play on the drive was a 32 yard catch by Byron Leggett when SSU was faced with third and 13 at their own 47.
Curry had his best day of the year with 185 yards passing a 50 yards rushing, despite being sacked four times. Hollinger caught 10 passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Antwan Allen had 10 tackles for the defense.
The win improves ODU to 6-2.