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ODU topples Southern Miss, 51-35

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oduJeremy Cox and Ray Lawry combined for four touchdowns to lead ODU over Southern Miss, 51-35, on Saturday at Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

Cox and Lawry each ran for two touchdowns, while the ODU defense forced five Southern Miss turnovers. Linebackers TJ Ricks and Anthony Wilson led the defense, as Wilson tallied a career-high 17 tackles and a sack, while Ricks recorded 11 tackles, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Rashaad Coward added a late fumble recovery for a touchdown to seal the win for ODU.

On Southern Miss’s opening drive, Sean Carter forced a Keon Howard fumble that Ricks recovered and took to the Southern Miss five-yard line. Three plays later, Lawry bowled in from two yards out for a 7-0 ODU lead.

On the first play of the next Southern Miss drive, Ricks forced and recovered a Howard fumble at the Southern Miss 28. David Washington tossed a 22-yard completion to Jonathan Duhart and Lawry ran in from two-yards out for a 14-0 ODU lead.

Another Southern Miss turnover, a Brandon Addison interception, gave ODU the ball at the Golden Eagle 43. Lawry caught a 28-yard pass to set up a three-yard touchdown run from Jeremy Cox to make the score 21-0.

Southern Miss got on the board with a two-yard run from Howard to cap an eight play, 64-yard drive to make the score 21-7 early in the second quarter.

ODU made the score 28-7 on a five-yard touchdown pass from Washington to Duhart to complete a six play, 62-yard drive.

The Monarchs made the score 35-7 with 1:19 left in the first half on a Washington to Travis Fulgham 39-yard touchdown to complete a four play, 92-yard scoring drive. A 46-yard run by Lawry put ODU at the Southern Miss 39.

The Golden Eagles stormed back in the final quarter, closing the gap to 42-28 with under 10 minutes remaining, but an ODU safety followed by Coward’s defensive score sealed the win for the Monarchs.

Overall, Washington completed 12 of 18 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Cox rushed for 78 yards and Lawry ran for 77, while Duhart led ODU in receiving yards with 52 yards on five receptions.

Notes: Zach Pascal’s 53-yard opening kickoff was the second longest kickoff return in ODU FBS history … Sean Carter forced the first fumble of his career in the first quarter … TJ Ricks recovered his fourth career fumble … Nick Ferrari-Smith played for the first time in his ODU career and had a tackle on special teams … TJ Ricksbecame fourth ODU player to have two fumble recoveries in same game … He broke the ODU career record with his sixth career forced fumble on the second Southern Miss possession … Ricks forced his seventh career fumble in the third quarter … Ray Lawry scored two first quarter touchdowns to tie Antonio Vaughan with 37 career touchdowns … Brandon Addison intercepted his second interception of the season … Brandon Simmonsreturned his first career kickoff 31 yards in the second quarter … Zach Pascal recorded a second quarter catch, his 46th-straight game with a catch … David Washington tossed his 20th and 21st touchdown pass of the season in the second quarter … Travis Fulgham now has a touchdown catch in six-straight games … Ryan Londreestarted the first game of his career … Jeremy Cox’s 67-yard touchdown run was the longest run of his career.

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