NORFOLK, Va. — There may have been bigger, more important victories in Old Dominion's football history. But few, if any, came with the kind of grit, determination, and courage that the Monarchs displayed Saturday.
Down 21-0 at halftime, and seemingly out of the game late in the fourth quarter, the Monarchs staged an improbable rally and defeated Georgia State, 25-24, Saturday evening at S.B. Ballard Stadium.
The victory made ODU (6-6, 5-3 Sun Belt Conference) bowl-eligible for the second time in three seasons under head coach Ricky Rahne.
Quarterback Grant Wilson, who was the backup at Fordham last season, scored the game-winner, a two-yard run up the middle, on the last play of the game. ODU had trailed, 24-14, with less than two minutes remaining, and scored 11 points in the final 1:37.
"I have no idea what bowl we're going to, but we're going to a bowl game," Rahne said.
It is impossible to predict where ODU will play in a bowl game. ODU won't find out its bowl destination until Sunday, Dec. 3, when ESPN makes its bowl announcements live.
ODU appeared listless in a first half that saw the Monarchs compile just 44 offensive yards and lose two of its defensive stars – LaMareon James and Jason Henderson – to injuries.
Rahne said the injuries, especially to James, who was on the field for about 15 minutes and taken off on a stretcher, hit the team hard emotionally.
"I think that explains a little bit of the first half," Rahne said. "When you see your teammate on the ground like that, it has an effect on you. Especially when it is somebody as beloved as LaMareon."
At halftime, Rahne walked around the locker room and said the same thing to every player dressed out.
"I made them look me in the eye and tell me they were going to win this game," he said.
"One of our core values is character. So, I said to them, hey, a man of higher character is a man of his word, right? You guys told me you were going to win this game. So now you've got to go be men of your word. And they were."
ODU trimmed the lead to 21-14 with some big plays – a 31-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to Reymello Murphy and a 67-yard run from sophomore Obie Sanni late in the third and early in the fourth quarter.
But then Georgia State picked off a deflected Wilson pass, and with 10:18 left, Liam Rickman kicked a 22-yard field goal that expanded the Panther lead back to 24-14.
ODU appeared to be in deep trouble when Wilson was sacked on fourth down with 6:09 remaining and the Panthers still ahead by 10.
But ODU's defense played well without Henderson and James in the second half and forced a three-and-out when ODU most needed it. With 4:37 left, the Monarchs began their comeback, driving deep into Georgia State territory.
With third and goal at the two, the Monarchs appeared to score on a toss run from Wilson to offensive lineman Chris Adams. Adams fell into the end zone, but the TD was wiped off the board by a face mask penalty against Adams.
After Wilson was sacked, Rahne sent the field goal unit quickly onto the field and Ethan Sanchez kicked a 37-yarder with trim to the lead to 24-17 with 1:37 left.
Georgia State was penalized for offsides on the kickoff, a squib kick, and then Sanchez squibbed the ball to the Georgia State 10.
Many in the crowd of 15,717 had left, but those remaining were standing and cheering.
ODU needed a miracle at that point to win. Wilson said he was kneeling on the sideline, "just praying to God for a miracle." And his prayer was answered.
On first down, Monarch safety Tahj Ra-El tackled quarterback Darren Grainger at the six. On the next play, Grainger was forced to leap to snag a high snap, and before he could take a step, was tackled in the end zone. Shawn Asbury and Terry Jones for a safety that narrowed the margin to 24-19 with 1:17 left. Jones, suspended from the first half because of a targeting penalty in last week's victory at Georgia Southern, led the defense in the second half with six tackles including two for a loss.
Isiah Paige, who led ODU with 120 all-purpose yards, then gave the Monarchs good field position by returning the kickoff to the Georgia State 49.
On first down, Wilson tossed a bullet to Murphy, who was hauled down 43 yards later at the six.
"That was an NFL throw," Rahne said. "He had to throw it perfectly."
After three plays, ODU faced a fourth and goal at the two. Rahne let the clock run down to two seconds before calling a timeout.
Offensive coordinator Kevin Decker then checked off the play he originally called and signaled Wilson to carry it up the middle.
Wilson was hit as he was going into the end zone but scored easily, causing ODU players and fans to run onto the field to celebrate.
It wasn't as crowded as last season when students poured onto the field after the Monarchs upset Virginia Tech. But for the players, it was just as enjoyable.
"I wasn't here last year for Virginia Tech, but man, it was a lot of fun," Wilson said. "You didn't know who was grabbing you or holding you and it didn't matter.
"It's so much fun being around these guys."
The game began on a somber note Georgia State's Jeremiah Johnson leveled James on a kickoff return with a helmet-to-helmet hit. A targeting penalty was called and then reversed after replay. While incensed the call was overturned, Monarch coaches and players were more concerned about James.
He was on the turf for about 15 minutes and was attended to by half a dozen medical and training personnel. James underwent a battery of tests at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and was released from the hospital and on the field celebrating with his teammates at the end of the game.
Henderson, the All-American who leads the nation in tackling went out with far less drama later in the first half with a leg injury, but that was also a notable blow.
With Henderson and James out, defensive backs Nolan Johnson and Ashton Whitner had interceptions while linebacker Wayne Matthews had a career-high 16 tackles, and Asbury, a safety, had 10.
ODU's defense dominated the second half, in which the Monarchs outgained Georgia State, 269-70.
"LaMareon was the first player I saw during my epic 16-second post-game speech," Rahne said with a smile. "He was the first player I saw, which was awesome."
It was Senior Day, and for the eight seniors who appeared on the field with their families before kickoff, it was their final home game.
"The seniors, they've worked so hard for this program," Wilson said. "It was awesome to send them out here with a victory at home and to extend the season for them.
"You know, we get 20 more days with these guys. A lot of people who don't play football don't understand how close we are. It's really a family."
And the family is going bowling.