Turnovers doom ODU in 23-19 loss at South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WAVY) — Yes, they were big underdogs.

Yes, they were on the road.

And yes, they were playing the SEC’s South Carolina in front of 70,000-plus fans.

But the Monarchs were not overwhelmed.

Old Dominion led with just under 10 minutes into the fourth quarter, but turnovers on their first and last series of the game, and another earlier in the fourth quarter, sealed their fate in a 23-19 loss to South Carolina Saturday in Columbia (See video above for game highlights and interviews from WAVY’s James Kattato).

“I know they are going to play hard and do what I ask them to do,” said ODU coach Ricky Rahne.

Old Dominion had four turnovers overall, but they were in the game throughout.

The Monarchs, after trailing 16-7 in the third quarter, got two Ethan Sanchez field goals sandwiched by a 36-yard touchdown run by Wilson on a big 4th-and-7 play, giving ODU a 19-16 lead with 9:54 left in the game.

However, after forcing a South Carolina punt, Wilson fumbled deep in his own territory, and it led to a short Gamecocks touchdown drive, giving the home team the lead that ODU could not overcome.

“I thought I had a lane, but it closed quick,” Wilson said. “The defensive end did a good job, and I didn’t have the ball secure like I should have. I’m going to work hard so that doesn’t happen again.”

Still, the Monarchs had a final drive left with under two minutes remaining, but Wilson threw his second interception of the game with 1:29 left to seal the loss in their season-opener.

South Carolina’s only two touchdowns of the game came on fumbles it recovered inside ODU’s 10-yard-line, and the Gamecocks’ winning touchdown came on freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers’ 4-yard run with 6:11 left.

“Grant, you know, played with a tremendous amount of effort and heart, and made some good plays today, but he just didn’t tuck the ball away the way we need to,” Rahne said on the ODU radio network. “Listen, that kid played his heart out, [and] those things happen.”

Rahne lauded the defensive effort, but with the caveat that it can improve.

“I thought we played well, and that we can play better,” Rahne said. “We played with great effort and we gave them a bunch of different looks that were able to make it difficult for them.”

Rahne, however, would not entertain the idea of a moral victory despite playing an SEC opponent on the road in front of a loud and large crowd.

“I’m not happy about it, I can tell you that much,” Rahne said. “I expected to win this game. There’s nothing to be happy about.”

See below for key stats and the key plays in the game.

Key stats

ODU had 305 total yards to 288 for South Carolina … Grant Wilson was 22-for-38 for 197 yards with a rushing touchdown, two interceptions and two fumbles. … The Gamecocks were 10-for-23 passing for just 114 yards, and rushed for 174 yards. ODU, after a slow start on the ground, ran for 108 yards on the ground, with Wilson’s 36-yard scamper for a touchdown accounting for a big chunk of it. … Isiah Paige had 8 catches for 115 yards and a touchdown, including a 72-yarder in the first quarter.

4th quarter

BLOCKED PUNT BY ODU!: Old Dominion has a chance in this one, going into the fourth quarter against the SEC’s South Carolina tied up. After closing out the 3rd quarter with a field goal, the Monarchs held the Gamecocks to a 3-and-out and blocked the punt at the South Carolina 29-yard-line. ODU 16, South Carolina 16 (14:13 left in 4th quarter)

ODU LEADS!: Ethan Sanchez’s 33-yard field goal gives the Monarchs their first lead of the game. Drive was 13 plays and 42 yards, taking up 4:19. ODU 19, South Carolina 16 (9:54 left in 4th quarter)

FUMBLE: After forcing South Carolina to punt, ODU got the ball back deep in its own territory. Grant Wilson fumbled, and recovered it, but after a penalty, he fumbled again and it was recovered by the Gamecocks’ DeAndre Jules. ODU 19, South Carolina 16 (6:48 left in 4th quarter)

SCORE ALERT: After the ODU turnover, LaNorris Sellers scored on a 3-yard run. The extra point gives South Carolina a four-point lead. Both Gamecocks touchdowns came off of Monarchs turnovers. South Carolina 23, ODU 19 (6:11 left in 4th quarter)

ODU did not convert on a 3rd-and-1 deep in its own territory and had to punt. South Carolina has the ball on its own 29. South Carolina 23, ODU 19 (3:51 left in 4th quarter)

Big defensive stand for ODU, as it forces a Gamecocks’ punt. Monarchs use their second timeout. Penalty against ODU during the punt, will be backed up deep in its own territory with under three minutes left. South Carolina 23, ODU 19 (2:50 left in 4th quarter)

ODU has a long way to go and on its own 28. South Carolina 23, ODU 19 (1:53 left in 4th quarter)

INTERCEPTION: Trying to put a long game-winning scoring drive together, Grant Wilson threw his second interception of the game, and that should just about do it. South Carolina 23, ODU 19 (1:29 left in 4th quarter)

FINAL: The Monarchs fall just short, losing on the road to South Carolina 23-19.

3rd quarter

SUMMARY: ODU got a pair of big plays, a Grant Wilson 36-yard touchdown on a 4th-and-7 play, and an Ethan Sanchez 40-yard field goal after having his extra point blocked after Wilson’s TD. The Monarchs are in this and have a chance for the upset. ODU 16, South Carolina 16

South Carolina gets the ball to start the quarter and has run the ball on three-straight plays. Currently, ODU has 101 passing yards to just 24 for the Gamecocks, but it’s just the opposite on the ground, as the Monarchs have -4 yards rushing to 140 for South Carolina. South Carolina 13, ODU 7

SCORE ALERT: After a 16-play, 60-yard drive taking up 7:47 of clock to start the second half, the Gamecocks had to settle for a 33-yard field goal. A big sack from the Monarchs’ Mario Thompson, who has 2.5 sacks so far today, helped keep South Carolina short of the end zone, but it is now a two-possession game. South Carolina 16, ODU 7, (7:13 left in 3rd quarter)

ODU TOUCHDOWN!: On 4th-and-7, Monarchs quarterback Grant Wilson ran for 36 yards and a touchdown on their biggest play of the game thus far, capping off a 9-play, 75-yard drive. The extra point was blocked. South Carolina 16, ODU 13 (4:57 left in 3rd quarter)

The Gamecocks moved the ball from their own 26 to the ODU 30, but Alex Herrera missed a 48-yard field goal. South Carolina 16, ODU 13 (2:03 left in 3rd quarter)

TIED UP! Ethan Sanchez’s 40-yard field goal has tied the game. The Monarchs’ drive was eight plays and 47 yards. ODU 16, South Carolina 16 (0:14 left in 3rd quarter)

HALFTIME UPDATE: Monarchs coach Ricky Rahne told the ODU radio network that the team needs to sustain more drives on offense, and defensively, he said they’ve done well, but they need to play cleaner in their technique. “Right now, we’re just not playing with any technique,” Rahne said, “and that’s what’s causing us to have some issues, both on offense and defense.” South Carolina 13, ODU 7

2nd quarter

SUMMARY: The quarter has been split up by a more than 40-minute lightning delay. After it, South Carolina, after having an apparent touchdown nullified by a penalty, kicked a 46-yard field goal to extend their lead, but it’s still a one-possession game.

South Carolina had to punt the ball back to start the quarter, but the Monarchs were only able to muster two short runs from Aaron Young and Wilson was sacked for a seven-yard loss, leading to ODU’s third punt of the game. South Carolina 10, ODU 7 (12:46 left in 2nd quarter)

TURNOVER: Gamecocks’ LaNorris sellers ran for five yards to the 9-yard-line, but they fumbled and ODU’s Patrick Smith-Young recovered. South Carolina 10, ODU 7 (12:35 left in 2nd quarter)

The game is expected to resume just before 6 p.m. following a lightning delay.

TURNOVER: However, ODU turned the ball back over, as Wilson, on the next play, had his pass intercepted in the end zone for a touchback. South Carolina 10, ODU 7 (12:28 left in 2nd quarter)

LIGHTNING DELAY: The game is now in a lightning delay, and the game is delayed by at least 30 minutes. Fans have been asked to leave the seating area. South Carolina 10, ODU 7 (11:42 left in 2nd quarter)

GAME RESUMES: Following a lightning delay, ODU and South Carolina have resumed play, with the Gamecocks in possession. South Carolina 10, ODU 7 (12:28 left in 2nd quarter)

ODU gets the ball back following a Gamecocks punt, and after a sack and a South Carolina timeout, Wilson looks to go deep, but the pass was incomplete. Wilson did complete a pass on 3rd-and-20 to Diante Vines, but the Monarchs had to punt. South Carolina 10, ODU 7 (6:06 left in 2nd quarter)

The Monarchs catch a break. On 4th-and-8 on ODU’s 23, the Gamecocks get called for an ineligible downfield penalty after scoring an apparent touchdown. Instead, South Carolina had to settle for a Alex Herrera 46-yard field goal. South Carolina 13, ODU 7 (4:02 left in 2nd quarter)

The Monarchs were able to get a pair of first downs and got close to midfield before a sack, an incomplete pass and a 4-yard completion left them just short of midfield, forcing a punt. South Carolina 13, ODU 7 (1:06 left in 2nd quarter)

HALFTIME: South Carolina 13, Old Dominion 7

1st Quarter

SUMMARY: ODU finished the first quarter with 81 total yards to 69 for South Carolina, but just six of those 81 yards have come on the ground, and 72 of those yards coming on one big play from Wilson to Paige. The Gamecocks had the ball for 10:44 of the quarter to just 4:16 for the Monarchs. South Carolina 10, ODU 7

—————

SCORE ALERT: ODU started the game with the ball, but quarterback Grant Wilson fumbled inside its own 10 yard line, and it led to a Gamecocks touchdown from Raheim Sanders. The extra point gave South Carolina an early 7-0 lead. South Carolina 7, ODU 0 (13:22 left in 1st quarter)

ODU TOUCHDOWN: The Monarchs and Wilson were not flustered, however, as Wilson completed a pass to Isiah Paige for a 72-yard touchdown. Ethan Sanchez’s extra point tied the game with 12:51 left in the quarter. ODU 7, South Carolina 7 (12:51 left in 1st quarter)

SCORE ALERT: South Carolina got the ball back and went on a 13-play, 53-yard drive, taking up 6:42 of clock before Alex Herrera made a 40-yard field goal to put the Gamecocks back on top. South Carolina 10, ODU 7 (6:09 left in 1st quarter)

On the Monarchs’ next drive, they got a pair of first downs before stalling near midfield, punting the ball back to South Carolina. The Gamecocks went three-and-out after that, and so did ODU. South Carolina 10, ODU 7 (2:43 left in 1st quarter)

ODU finished the first quarter strong, as the Monarchs sacked Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers for an eight-yard loss. South Carolina 10, ODU 7 (end 1st quarter)

Pregame

Monarchs quarterback Grant Wilson was taking it all in before the game against South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium.

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