After 69-year wait, ODU pounced

NORFOLK

Postgame fireworks from behind the north end zone capped the warm summer's evening at Foreman Field, but they were minor embellishments compared with the in-game fireworks provided by Old Dominion.

When a football game is as wildly anticipated and hyped as this one was, the occasion calls for more than pleasant conditions, a rousing marching band, a few brats on the barbie and staged pyrotechnics.

A big night calls for big fun on the field.

In that way, ODU delivered like Domino's.

The Monarchs christened their newly refurbished stadium with one big, exciting play after another against a Chowan team that couldn't cope with ODU's athleticism on either side of the ball.

Some might argue that ODU already resembles a football powerhouse - by scheduling such an overmatched opponent.

But that assessment, to be fair, couldn't come until after a couple quarters. Until then, nobody had any idea how ODU's young players might handle the special circumstances.

Now we can say with confidence that what ODU didn't do was suffer stage fright. There was nothing inhibited about the team's first venture. The full house at ODU's stadium enjoyed a full dose of action from every facet of Bobby Wilder's first-year team.

The Monarchs, as if to emphasize their superiority over Chowan, even blocked three extra points in a game that looked more lopsided than the 36-21 score.

It was almost as if Wilder's players, knowing that the school had waited 69 years for another football team, didn't want the fans to wait one extra second for the fun to begin.

And they didn't. No sooner had everyone sat down after the national anthem than they were on their feet again for T.J. Cowart's game-opening 45-yard kickoff return into Chowan territory.

On ODU's next possession, quarterback Thomas DeMarco connected with Marquel Thomas for 50 yards and a touchdown.

When the offense bogged down, Drew Hareza would trot out on the field and drill a field goal. After one game, it appears that Hareza's foot is bigger than ODU's footprint.

The redshirt freshman from Pennsylvania kicked five field goals, his last coming from 48 yards as the second quarter expired. At the half, ODU led 29-15, and Hareza, with 17 points, had outscored Chowan.

Hareza was all over the score sheet, while junior linebacker Mateus Porter, a transfer from California, was all over the field.

Porter grabbed one interception and created another when he blitzed the Chowan quarterback in the third quarter. Defensive back Craig Wilkins picked off the hurried pass and sprinted down the sideline 95 yards into the end zone.

A holding penalty called back the run, but not before the crowd was treated to more fireworks.

Mario Crawford added to a wide-open first half by returning a kickoff 76 yards. Sticking with the Monarchs' theme of go big or go home, Jonathan Plisco boomed a 55-yard punt and averaged 51.2 yards on four attempts.

ODU scored only once after halftime, but the touchdown- a 43-yard run from scrimmage by Jamar Parham - created another vivid first-night memory.

A highlight video could be made from the Monarchs' many and varied exploits, owing, no doubt, as much to Chowan's deficiencies as their own talent.

We'll know more as the season unwinds, yet since when is it a bad thing to make a good first impression?

Warning ODU fans not to get carried away probably won't do any good, either. They showed up to the game carried away.

Everything after that was gravy.

And fireworks.

Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com