Oct. 31, 2009

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NORFOLK, Va. -- Redshirt sophomore Thomas DeMarco (Palm Desert, Calif.) was down right scarey Halloween evening as the Monarch quarterback ran for 144 yards along with three touchdowns to help ODU improve to 7-2 on the year in a 31-10 victory over Georgetown.

The Monarchs, who have won a season best four-in-a-row now, improve to 7-2 on the year and hold Georgetown winless at 0-8.

The outcome was never in doubt as the Monarchs scored on their opening drive for the seventh time this season and established a 17-0 lead by the end of the first quarter.

DeMarco led the charge in the opening quarter with a 15-yard touchdown run and then a 6-yard run in the closing minutes of the stanza. In between, kicker Drew Hareza (McDonald, Pa.) nailed a 20-yard field goal attempt to give ODU its most points in a first quarter this year.

That first quarter also saw the Monarchs run for 128 of its 340 rushing yardage while pushing back the Hoyas for negative yardage. Georgetown would only up its total rushing yardage to 14 yards at the half.

Jose-Pablo Buerba got Georgetown onto the scoreboard early in the second quarter with a 40-yard field goal, but Old Dominion would respond on the next drive with another touchdown. DeMarco took off for his third touchdown of the night, racing for 51-yard downfield. Later, DeMarco would connect with Reid Evans (Hampton, Va.) for a 16-yard reception with Evans catching the ball near the top right corner of the end zone as ODU headed into the half up 31-3.

There was just one score in second half action. The Hoyas' Scott Darby threw to Brandon Floyd for a 6-yard reception with 13:21 remaining in the game.

DeMarco finished the night with 144 yards and completing six of his 11 passes with one interception. Desmond Williams (Windsor, N.C.) meanwhile ran the ball 24 times to accumulate 113 yards in the victory. Evans posted four receptions for the receiving corps totaling 36 yards.

Defensively, Jake Sweedyk (Walker, Mich.), who got the starting nod tonight at linebacker, made a team-high nine stops followed by Michael R. Williams (Norfolk, Va.), Mateus Porter (Pacifica, Calif.), and Mychael McJunkins (Kansas City, Kan.) with six tackles apiece. Donald Smith (Chesapeake, Va.) also made an interception, picking up 30 yards on the Hoya turnover.

For Georgetown, Charlie Houghton led the Hoya ground attack with 112 yards, while in the air Floyd made four catches recording 28 yards.. Quarterback Isaiah Kempf completed just four of his 16 pass attempts ending the night with just 25 yards. Scott Darby who was utilized in the second half went 14 of 31 with 147 yards.

Homecoming will be next weekend when the Monarchs host North Carolina Central in their final home contest of the 2009 season. Click here for all the latest info on activities surrounding ODU's first ever Homecoming with football.

MONARCH MOMENTS:

HOMECOMING PARKING:
Please note that for next weekend's contest with North Carolina Central tailgate lots will open at 9 a.m. However, if you don't arrive between 9 and 10, please wait until after 10:30 to enter your lot, due to the Homecoming parade route on campus.

2009 WRAPPING UP:
Monarch fans, CI travel is sponsoring a fan bus trip and tailgate in Lexington on Nov. 21 for the ODU football team's final contest of the year at VMI. Call 627-8000 and sign up for the bus today.

HOW HIGH CAN YOU GO?
Old Dominion's 17 points in the opening quarter were the most scored by the team in a first quarter. The previous high was 16 in the season opener against Chowan back on September 5th.

MORE TDs FOR TD:
DeMarco also ran for three touchdowns against Jacksonville back on September 19th in ODU's first road game and FCS contest.

DASHING DEMARCO:
Desmond Williams ran for 145 yards in the Monarchs' last home game against Campbell for a season-high for the Monarchs in rushing yardage, but that mark was threatened tonight. With ODU returning home against Georgetown on Saturday, Thomas DeMarco nearly usurped that mark dashing for 145 yards . Among his carries was a 55-yard run into the endzone for his third touchdown of the night.

STEPPING UP:
Starting in place of the injured A.T. Aoelua (Pago, Pago, American Samoa), Jake Sweedyk (Walker, Mich.) made the start and ended with night with a team-leading nine tackles.