News Summary
Old Dominion faced a challenging match against No. 20 Indiana, losing 27-14 in their season opener. Despite a strong start, highlighted by a 75-yard touchdown run from their quarterback, ODU struggled with turnovers and penalties. Indiana capitalized on these mistakes and dominated time of possession, outgaining the Monarchs offensively. Coach Ricky Rahne remains optimistic as ODU prepares for their next game against North Carolina Central.
Bloomington, IN – In their season opener at Memorial Stadium, Old Dominion (ODU) faced a challenging matchup against No. 20 Indiana, resulting in a 27-14 defeat. Despite an exciting start and several key plays, the Monarchs were unable to maintain their early momentum and fell to a ranked opponent.
ODU kicked off the game with a stunning 75-yard touchdown run by quarterback Colton Joseph on the first play from scrimmage, giving them an immediate lead. However, the momentum shifted in the second quarter when Indiana’s Jonathan Brady returned a punt for 91 yards, tying the game at 7-7. The Hoosiers managed to pull ahead and never looked back, ultimately taking a 17-7 lead and securing the victory.
The Monarchs’ defense demonstrated resilience with notable performances, including a goal-line stand and a fumble recovery by Zion Frink, following a forced fumble from safety Nickendre Stiger. Nevertheless, ODU could not fully capitalize on these defensive efforts. Indiana’s quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, contributed significantly to their offensive output, completing 18 of 31 passes for 193 yards and rushing for 34 yards, including a touchdown.
As the game progressed, ODU struggled with turnovers and penalties. Joseph threw three interceptions, with one interception leading to an Indiana field goal and another setting up a 5-yard touchdown run by Francisco Mendoza. Throughout the game, ODU committed nine penalties for a total of 65 yards and was significantly outgained by Indiana, who amassed 502 total yards compared to ODU’s 314 yards.
Time of possession was a critical factor, with Indiana dominating the clock and holding the ball for over 41 minutes. Despite this, the ODU defense held Indiana to only two touchdowns and two field goals on six red-zone attempts, highlighting moments of defensive strength amid the overall struggle.
In the game’s later stages, Joseph found success again, executing a remarkable 78-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 27-14. His performance was highlighted by rushing for 179 yards on 10 carries, marking him as the standout offensive player for ODU, despite his struggles in the passing game where he completed 11 out of 22 attempts for 96 yards.
Indiana’s offensive efforts were further bolstered by their top rusher, Roman Hemby, who carried the ball 23 times for 110 yards, contributing to the Hoosiers’ solid ground game. ODU’s performance was underscored by inefficiencies on third-down conversions, an area that coach Ricky Rahne acknowledged as a contributing factor to their loss.
This game marked the first-ever matchup between Old Dominion and Indiana. Indiana’s head coach, Curt Cignetti, previously held ties to James Madison University, bringing along several former staff members and players to the Hoosiers’ roster, which may have added additional layers to the matchup.
ODU’s loss leaves them with a record of 0-1 as they look forward to their upcoming game against North Carolina Central next Saturday. Head coach Ricky Rahne expressed a sense of optimism about the team’s potential and commitment to improving as they learn from this challenging opener.
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Additional Resources
- ESPN: Indiana vs. Old Dominion Game Recap
- IndyStar: Indiana vs. Old Dominion Live Updates
- 247 Sports: Mixed Bag for Indiana Defense
- Google Search: Indiana Football
- Crimson Quarry: Three Things Learned from Indiana’s Win
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WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER The WILLIAMSBURG STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREWilliamsburg.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Williamsburg, James City County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Williamsburg Farmers Market, Yorktown Market Days, and Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, plus leading businesses in education and hospitality that power the local economy such as College of William & Mary, The Williamsburg Winery, and Sodexo. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREVirginiaBeach.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Virginia's dynamic landscape.
