9/24/11 Daily Press: ODU drops CAA opener to Delaware
ODU drops first conference game
By Aaron Bracy, CORRESPONDENT
NEWARK, Del. — In its first Colonial Athletic Conference game as a member, Old Dominion proved it belonged.
But it’s doubtful that was solace for the Monarchs on a bus ride back to Norfolk that probably didn’t include much cheering after ODU fell to conference power Delaware, 27-17, on Saturday in a game that was there to be won.
“I don’t want to be the coach of the team that just comes in and competes and gives people a good game,” ODU coach Bobby Wilder said. “I’m not interested in that and neither are the kids.”
Wilder certainly was proud of his squad that played the seventh-ranked Blue Hens (3-1, 1-0), who have reached three of the past eight national title games, have won or shared nine league titles and own an all-time conference-best .652 winning percentage, all they could handle.
And, really, how could he not be considering the Monarchs re-launched their program just two years ago? But despite deservedly being lauded by Delaware coach K.C. Keeler, who called the Monarchs “a good football team that’s going to win a lot of football games,” Wilder wasn’t interested in a whole bunch of back-slaps and high-fives after the loss.
“Quite honestly we feel like as a team we let this one get away,” he said.
That’s because ODU had a 17-16 advantage early in the fourth quarter and, with a defense that swallowed Delaware’s powerful running game all day, looked in good shape to win its 21st game in 26 tries — but clearly its biggest.
The Monarchs took the lead after a gutty fourth-down decision by Wilder, who called a fake punt on the ODU 23-yard line. Punter Jonathan Plisco rumbled up the middle for 15 yards and an unlikely first down.
“We saw the middle was open and we had this play on the books for a while,” Plisco said. “They dropped back and I had great blocks and opened it up. I just followed it.”
Said Wilder, “We were down 16-10 and I felt like the momentum had shifted. I felt like we needed a boost.”
It worked as the Monarchs marched down the field, helped by consecutive receptions of 12 and 28 yards by Reid Evans, and tied the game on Thomas DeMarco’s 9-yard TD pass to Antonio Vaughan before going ahead on Jarod Brown’s point-after.
Then, it all fell apart in a flash.
Travis Hawkins returned the ensuing kickoff 60 yards to the ODU 32, and Blue Hen QB Tim Donnelly connected with Rob Jones on the next play for a 32-yard score that put the hosts up for good with 9:29 left, satisfying the crowd of 16,789 at Delaware Stadium.
On the return, the Monarchs slowed after Hawkins dropped the kickoff. By the time the coverage team sped up, it was too late to avoid a big play.
“That probably was the biggest momentum swing in the game,” Wilder said. “Everything we just gained on the fake punt and the touchdown, we lost it on that play.”
The Monarchs got three more possessions, but never crossed midfield.
That was somewhat symbolic of the afternoon for the offense, which never quite found its rhythm. DeMarco finished 23-for-46 for 207 yards with an INT and TD.
Asked if there was one play he’d like back, DeMarco said, “I’m thinking about probably 15.”
“We didn’t pitch and catch like we had been doing,” Wilder said. “It was there for us. We had guys open where either we missed throws or they dropped the throws. A lot of the credit goes to Delaware.”
While the offense may have been sputtering somewhat, Wilder was pleased with the performance of the defense and, outside of Hawkins’ run, special teams. The defensive line, particularly, showed to be a strength, as ODU bottled up Hens star back Andrew Pierce for 28 yards on 14 carries. Pierce, who entered averaging 111.2 yards per game, left with a knee injury early in the second half but his 1.5 yards per carry was well below his average of 5.1.
“That’s a tough team to run on,” Keeler said. “They’re big and stout, always in lanes and always fill gaps.”
“Defensively we came out of this game with a lot of confidence,” ODU defensive lineman Edmon McClam said. “It showed we have a CAA-caliber defense.”
Sure, there were plenty of positives for an outfit playing in its first league game in a hostile environment against the class of the CAA.
Ultimately though, it’s about winning. And moral victories aren’t enough for Wilder.
“I’m more disappointed that we lost, that’s the biggest thing,” Wilder said. “I honestly came in here today and thought we were going to win. I thought we were the better team and I don’t say that to sound arrogant or with any disrespect to Delaware. … It’s disappointing to lose that game and lose it the way we did.”
