ODU cruises to 31-20 win over Towson

Old Dominion University football raced out to a 10-0 lead and pushed its lead to as big as 31-6 en route to a 31-20 victory at Towson Saturday night.

With the win, the Monarchs improve to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in CAA play while the Tigers drop to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

ODU took the first lead of the game, taking the opening kickoff and driving 61 yards in 13 plays capped off by a 27-yard Jarod Brown field goal for the 3-0 Monarch advantage.

The ensuing kickoff Fred Credle forced a fumble that Malique Johnson recovered to give the Monarchs the ball at the 22-yardline and ODU cashed in the turnover as Taylor Heinicke hit Vaughan for an 11-yard strike to put ODU up 10-0.

D.J. Soven kicked a 30-yard field goal to cut the ODU lead to 10-3 before the Monarchs responded with a nine play, 78-yard drive capped off by a Heinicke six-yard scamper to give ODU a 17-3 lead.

Soven kicked his second field goal of the game, this one a 40-yarder with seven seconds left in the first half as ODU took a 17-6 lead into the break.

The Monarchs’ defense forced a three and out on the first possession of the second half and ODU increased its lead to 24-6 on a 36-yard run from Heinicke, his second rushing TD of the night.

Midway through the third quarter Towson failed to convert a fourth down at its own 43 and the Monarchs took over and scored as Angus Harper fumbled at the one but Blair Roberts was there to recover the ball in the end zone to put ODU on top 31-6.

Grant Enders capped a a 71-yard drive for Towson with a one-yard score to cut the ODU lead to 31-13.

Enders tossed a touchdown pass to Cory Kirby in the fourth quarter to make the final score 31-20.

Heinicke finished the night 26-of-39 passing for 264 yards and a touchdown while rushing for a season-best 71 yards and a single-game best two rushing scores.

Jakwail Bailey caught eight passes for 79 yards with Nick Mayers catching six passes for 60 yards.