ODU Football Is Back, takes a tough loss to Wake Forest (9-3-21)
By: Tyrone Montgomery Jr.
Headline Photo Credit: Keith Lucas-ODU Athletics
The Monarchs are finally suited and booted to take the field this season after missing the entire last season due to this pandemic. Yes, the entire Conference USA failed to take the field last season and it has been 643 days since they played their last game. That’s a very long time to be MIA with the game of football. The Monarchs reminded me how much I love cars. There’s nothing like a nice Corvette. The older ones appeal to me more. But sometimes with older cars, they may need a jump just to get started. Well, the Monarchs needed a jump in their Week 1 matchup at Wake Forest. It wasn’t pretty early on for ODU. It was a blowout in the first half and they ended up losing 42-10. QB DJ Mack failed to get the offense on track completing only 7/21 of his passed for just 39 yards and most alarming, 2 picks. After that 2nd pick, The game was out of hand so the Monarchs pulled out the jumper cables to get a start on their season and turned to Freshman QB Hayden Wolff. The Freshman gave the team a spark and was able to produce the only TD for ODU as he connected with Isaiah Spencer for a TD. Wolff finished the game 11/17for 88 Yards and a TD.
Yes, ODU showed quite a bit of rust in this game just like any nice old Corvette that may have been in the garage for too long. But maybe it was rust mixed with a bit of jitters and anxiousness. This game was HC Ricky Rahne’s first game as acting HC for the Monarchs. Rahne was previously with Penn State as their OC before arriving at ODU. One positive to take away from this game though was the running game. Elijah Davis averaged almost 6 YPC in this matchup. Expect for Coach Rahne to become an even better coach as the season goes on and to give Davis more carries. There is a light at the end of this tunnel on I-95 for these Monarchs.
