Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Tech football is back on the road this weekend as the team prepares to face in-state rival Old Dominion. The matchup will be the sixth time the two teams have played each other since the first meeting in 2017. The programs most recently met last season in Blacksburg, where the Hokies claimed victory by a score of 36-17. This season, the bout changes location to Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium, where the Monarchs will battle against Tech head coach Brent Pry and company. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 14, and fans can find the game live on ESPN+. In this week’s edition of Know the Foe, presented by AAA, let’s take a closer look at what Old Dominion has to offer this weekend.
Old Dominion finished last season with a 6-7 record. The Monarchs played in closely contested games throughout the entire year, as five of their seven losses were by seven points or fewer. Opening on the road against SEC opponent South Carolina this year, the Norfolk-based squad failed to execute late in a 23-19 loss, mostly due to costly turnovers throughout the game. Against East Carolina last weekend, the Pirates outlasted ODU 20-14 even when the Monarchs held the lead going into halftime.
However, Old Dominion has been quietly improving as Ricky Rahne begins his fifth season as head coach. Rahne has taken the Monarchs to a bowl game two times over the last three seasons, most recently featuring in a 38-35 overtime loss in the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl against Western Kentucky. Even when returning the sixth-fewest starters in the country last season, the Monarchs still found success.
Some of the success Old Dominion achieved in 2023 was largely due to the defense. Linebacker James Henderson returns this year after posting team highs in tackles (167), solo tackles (51) and sacks (4.0) over 12 games. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound senior is looking to add to his career total of 436 tackles, which is a school record. Safety Terry Jones also provides support to the Monarchs’ defense, as both him and Henderson had over 100 tackles last season.
This season, however, the Monarchs’ run defense has been vulnerable over two games, allowing East Carolina running back Rahjai Harris to go for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns last week. The week prior, South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders scored once and ran for 88 yards. For a talented back like Bhayshul Tuten, the matchup offers an intriguing opportunity against a team that allowed an average 178.5 rushing yards to opponents in 2023.
While some defensive members may highlight the team, the Old Dominion offense has steadily improved during Rahne’s tenure. Rahne brought in former Rutgers running back Aaron Young through the transfer portal, who is averaging 69.5 yards per game as a starter. Young’s shifty yet sturdy running style fits well into offensive coordinator Kevin Decker’s scheme. At quarterback is redshirt junior Grant Wilson, who threw for 2,149 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2023. Wilson tends to favor wide receivers Kelby Williams and Isiah Page when dropping back to pass, as both have already corralled touchdowns this season. In 2023, Williams averaged 17.3 yards per catch and had the second-most receiving yards (451) behind wide receiver Reymello Murphy’s 502 yards.
This season, Wilson has struggled in the passing game, as he currently has more interceptions (3) than passing touchdowns (2). Against ballhawks like Dorian Strong and Mansoor Delane, who recorded an interception last week against Marshall, look for the lunch pail defense to thrive. Additionally, against South Carolina, Wilson coughed up the ball twice for two lost fumbles, something that certainly makes defensive linemen Aeneas Peebles and Antwaun Powell-Ryland excited.
The Hokies look to secure a victory this weekend against an Old Dominion team that is still finding its footing after an 0-2 start. Secure your tickets to Thursday night action in Lane Stadium against Boston College on Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m. ET before the game becomes the fifth sellout.