Old Dominion beats Charlotte, 56-34, to become bowl eligible
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Hayden Wolff threw three touchdown passes to Ali Jennings III and Old Dominion saw a 21-point lead evaporate in the fourth quarter only to rally for a 56-34 win over Charlotte in the regular season finale Saturday to become bowl eligible for the first time in six seasons.
Old Dominion's last appearance in a bowl game was in 2016, when the Monarchs defeated Eastern Michigan in the Bahamas Bowl. ODU is not guaranteed a bowl-game bid, however. Conference USA has seven guaranteed bowl bids, but after North Texas upset previously unbeaten UTSA it now has eight bowl-eligible teams.
Jonathan Cruz kicked a pair of field goals to start the fourth quarter, pulling the 49ers within one, 35-34 with 10:04 left to play.
Blake Watson capped a 75-yard drive with a 2-yard run for his third score with 6:42 left and Wolff and Jennings hooked up for a 36-yard score with 3:49 to play to make it 49-34. The Monarchs added a touchdown when Charlotte quarterback Chris Reynolds was sacked and fumbled into the end zone, where Deeve Harris recovered for the final score.
Jennings' career day included nine catches for 252 yards. Blake Watson carried 18 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns and Wolff finished 17 of 26 for 328 yards, but was picked off twice, once for a touchdown that brought Charlotte to within 28-14 at intermission.
Craig Reynolds was 24 of 40 for 231 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions for the 49ers (5-7, 3-5). Grant DuBose caught nine passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.
Old Dominion (6-6, 5-3 Conference USA) started the season with six losses in its first seven games, then closed with five straight wins.
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Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
C. Reynolds
3 QB
|
C. Reynolds | 24/40 | 232 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Foster
7 QB
|
J. Foster | 3/6 | 46 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
C. Camp
5 RB
|
C. Camp | 16 | 90 | 1 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Byrd
13 RB
|
S. Byrd | 13 | 70 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. McEachern
25 RB
|
C. McEachern | 3 | 52 | 0 | 55 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Pearson Jr.
19 WR
|
K. Pearson Jr. | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Foster
7 QB
|
J. Foster | 1 | -6 | 0 | -6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Reynolds
3 QB
|
C. Reynolds | 5 | -6 | 0 | 8 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
G. DuBose
14 WR
|
G. DuBose | 16 | 9 | 94 | 1 | 32 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
V. Tucker
1 WR
|
V. Tucker | 10 | 7 | 53 | 0 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
E. Spencer
9 WR
|
E. Spencer | 4 | 3 | 31 | 1 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Carriere
85 TE
|
R. Carriere | 3 | 2 | 29 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Clemons
81 TE
|
J. Clemons | 3 | 2 | 25 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Kennon
86 TE
|
B. Kennon | 1 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. McEachern
25 RB
|
C. McEachern | 2 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Shoffner
2 QB
|
D. Shoffner | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Byrd
13 RB
|
S. Byrd | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Camp
5 RB
|
C. Camp | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Dollar
4 WR
|
C. Dollar | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
J. Whisenhunt
2 LB
|
J. Whisenhunt | 4-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Murray
5 LB
|
T. Murray | 3-3 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Turner
59 LB
|
B. Turner | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. McMillan
18 DB
|
L. McMillan | 2-5 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Carriere
85 TE
|
R. Carriere | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Jackson
95 DE
|
M. Jackson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Dollar
4 WR
|
C. Dollar | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Howard
4 CB
|
G. Howard | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Wallace
60 DL
|
B. Wallace | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Martinez
23 DB
|
M. Martinez | 1-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Horton
44 DL
|
M. Horton | 1-2 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Creamer
3 DB
|
T. Creamer | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Francois
23 WR
|
A. Francois | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Alexander
1 DB
|
J. Alexander | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Kelly
53 DL
|
M. Kelly | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Clawson
98 DE
|
T. Clawson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Wardlow
7 DE
|
K. Wardlow | 0-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Watts
0 DE
|
M. Watts | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Holley
97 DL
|
J. Holley | 0-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Martin
17 LB
|
L. Martin | 0-9 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
J. Cruz
11 K
|
J. Cruz | 2/2 | 44 | 4/4 | 10 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
B. Rice
37 P
|
B. Rice | 1 | 54.0 | 1 | 54 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
S. Byrd
13 RB
|
S. Byrd | 7 | 20.4 | 30 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
H. Rutledge
32 RB
|
H. Rutledge | 1 | 9.0 | 9 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
H. Wolff
11 QB
|
H. Wolff | 17/25 | 328 | 3 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
B. Watson
2 RB
|
B. Watson | 18 | 114 | 2 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Davis
12 RB
|
E. Davis | 9 | 15 | 1 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bly
1 WR
|
J. Bly | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. Wolff
11 QB
|
H. Wolff | 2 | -16 | 0 | -7 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
A. Jennings III
0 WR
|
A. Jennings III | 12 | 9 | 252 | 3 | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bly
1 WR
|
J. Bly | 1 | 1 | 25 | 0 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Smartt
4 WR
|
S. Smartt | 2 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. Kuntz
80 TE
|
Z. Kuntz | 5 | 5 | 18 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Watson
2 RB
|
B. Watson | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Savedge
5 WR
|
D. Savedge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Anthony Jr.
84 TE
|
D. Anthony Jr. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
T. Hawkins III
6 CB
|
T. Hawkins III | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Johnson
21 S
|
R. Johnson | 4-5 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Jones
13 S
|
T. Jones | 3-4 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Jackson
41 DE
|
C. Jackson | 2-5 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Henry
8 LB
|
R. Henry | 2-9 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Brandt-Epps
97 DT
|
D. Brandt-Epps | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Harris
31 DE
|
D. Harris | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. McDuffie
56 DT
|
S. McDuffie | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Headen
24 S
|
J. Headen | 1-5 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. Blackmon
7 S
|
H. Blackmon | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Cray
20 CB
|
R. Cray | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Williams
25 LB
|
S. Williams | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Haynes
9 DE
|
M. Haynes | 1-1 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Bibby
99 DT
|
T. Bibby | 0-3 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Ford Jr.
50 DT
|
A. Ford Jr. | 0-5 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Young
3 LB
|
J. Young | 0-10 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Brocchini
5 CB
|
W. Brocchini | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Wallace
52 DT
|
C. Wallace | 0-4 | 0.5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Morrison
19 DE
|
A. Morrison | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Henderson
42 LB
|
J. Henderson | 0-3 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
N. Rice
98 K
|
N. Rice | 0/1 | 0 | 8/8 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
E. Duane
95 P
|
E. Duane | 2 | 35.5 | 0 | 37 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
L. James
4 CB
|
L. James | 3 | 23.3 | 26 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |