Showing they are still young, Monarchs hurt themselves

New season. Different reality.

Even those who didn't see how ODU's second go-round at football could be as surprising or successful as the inaugural year may have been a bit mystified by the Monarchs' dodgy performance against Jacksonville.

The ODU offense was guilty of too many giveaways, the defense of allowing the Floridians too many breakaways.

But this is a good time to recall that Saturday's loss was only the 12th game for the Monarchs program. The inexperience showed. With a tougher schedule ahead, maybe it will show more often than anybody at ODU wants to believe.

"We made a lot of mistakes in last year's first game, too," head coach Bobby Wilder said. "The difference was we won."

The difference? Chowan (last year's hand-picked patsy) wasn't Jacksonville, a team with plenty of experience and offensive options.

After his team's 35-25 loss, Wilder praised Jacksonville quarterback Josh McGregor, running back Rudell Small and wideout Josh Philpart.

"I feel those three kids beat us tonight," he said.

Wilder gave his own kids credit for digging deep and making a game of it in the fourth quarter, moving to within three points before Thomas DeMarco threw an interception in the end zone with 4:35 to play.

Speaking of new realities, a year ago, in 11 games, DeMarco threw only four interceptions. Against Jacksonville, he had three passes picked off, though only the last one should be deemed a poor decision or faulty execution.

"I forced the ball," he said of his final pick. "I was forcing it for the win."

DeMarco threw for a career-high 334 yards, but had ODU taken better care of business, last-minute theatrics from the quarterback might not have been required.

The Monarchs were inside the Jacksonville 15 in the second quarter when they were stopped on a fourth-and-1. After getting the ball back, ODU failed to convert on a 32-yard field-goal attempt.

"There were some things that were uncharacteristic of things we do," Wilder said. "That wasn't the style of football we need to play."

ODU overcame several hurdles in this game, but too many were of their own construction. A team that found ways to win last season had too big a hand in its own demise.

Even after DeMarco's final interception, ODU dug in and gave itself another chance. But with the visitors facing a third-and-forever in their own territory, McGregor went back and completed a 36-yard pass for the first down.

ODU's inability to keep its opponent pinned down at that moment was perfectly predictable for anyone who witnessed the Monarchs' secondary being picked apart all night. Then again, the pass rush was missing on that play, too.

"You have them third and long and they converted," defensive end Deron Mayo said. "It can be demoralizing."

Temporarily, sure. But it's far too early for disappointment. Nobody said the second season would be easy.

Wilder noted that the most progress ODU made last season was between its first and second games.

Maybe this is so much coach's spin, but keeping the focus squarely on the future is the best thing for any program with so little history to look back on.

In the meantime, a dose of reality never hurts.

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