ODU calmly grabs latest exciting win

NORFOLK

"The worst feeling," Taylor Heinicke said of his fumble that was returned 96 yards for a touchdown.

The third-quarter turnover and stunning Richmond score got the visitors back in a game that Old Dominion was about to break open.

But Heinicke wasn't feeling any regrets following the game, which ODU won with two fourth-quarter touchdowns after Richmond had tied the score.

"Five yards. Easy five yards," he said after the 42-28 victory.

He was talking about what Richmond's defense consistently gave him and his receivers. What they gladly took all afternoon.

Fearing ODU's speed on the outside, and missing two starters in the defensive backfield, Richmond played off Monarch receivers and invited the quick, short pass.

"Five yards just for dumping it out there," Heinicke said with the same relaxed attitude he takes onto the field. "That's awesome."

Five yards here. Five there. And many more when ODU's pass catchers juked Richmond defenders and moved upfield. That happened a lot, too, as is obvious by Reid Evans' 12 catches for 149 yards. And Heinicke's 373 yards through the air.

"With the athletes we have on the field," Heinicke said, "it makes me look really good."

This one could have been a blowout. Probably should have been. But then that might have resulted in a dull game for the Foreman Field crowd. Can't let that happen. And it hasn't this season. Not in CAA play, at least.

The home victory over Massachusetts on Oct. 1 is memorable for the ankle injury to Thomas DeMarco that forced coach Bobby Wilder to turn to Heinicke, the true freshman.

Then on Oct. 15, ODU blew an 11-point lead in the last four minutes. Towson's game-winner came on a desperation fourth-and-29 pass that resulted in a 63-yard touchdown play. That day provided a little too much excitement for Monarch fans.

Last week's victory over James Madison, considered by ODU to be the young program's finest moment, came after the Monarchs trailed at the half before shutting out JMU in the final two quarters. The game ended with JMU missing a potential tying field goal.

There shouldn't have been any need for ODU fans to hyperventilate Saturday. Richmond, which now has lost six in a row, was leaning against the ropes and ready to fall when Heinicke made a nice run to the 4-yard line, and thought he might score, but had the ball poked out.

"I should have just gone down," he said.

Said Wilder, "No question the game could have turned into a three- or four-score game if we had scored then."

A touchdown would have put ODU up by 20 with about four minutes to play in the third and pulled the plug on Richmond's hopes. Instead, Doug Howell's return brought Richmond to within six points. Energized by the gift, the Spiders marched 71 yards the next time they had the ball to score again, missing the extra point.

Once again, there would be nothing routine about the fourth quarter. Were the Monarchs worried? They insist they weren't.

"We had a lot of poise on offense, as we usually do," Evans said.

Poise and passing helped take ODU 67 yards on 11 plays, in 2:39, for the go-ahead touchdown. Another touchdown drive followed - 70 yards on six plays - after Paul Morant intercepted Richmond's Aaron Corp.

The result should get ODU into the FCS playoffs. But not to be overlooked - at least not by Wilder - is that the game marked another victory against a Virginia opponent.

"We are making a very loud and clear statement," he said.

Having beaten Hampton, JMU and Richmond, the Monarchs travel to William and Mary on Saturday, "the final game of our Virginia tour," Wilder said.

"We have an opportunity," he added, "to be undefeated in Virginia this year."

As ODU's improbably successful, never-dull season continues, there are a lot of different ways of keeping score.