STATESBORO - Old Dominion football spoiled Senior Day for Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon at Paulson Stadium in a 45-10 Sun Belt Conference win for the Monarchs.
The Monarchs improved to 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the Sun Belt with the victory, while Georgia Southern fell to 5-6 overall and 3-4 in the league. The Eagles will wrap up the 2025 regular season next Saturday, traveling to Marshall for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff in Huntington, W. Va., needing a win over the Thundering Herd to earn bowl eligibility for a fourth consecutive season.
Old Dominion scored on its first five drives of the contest to build a 31-0 lead at halftime as the Monarchs rushed for 202 yards and three scores before intermission.
After the Monarchs scored a touchdown on their first possession of the second half, the Eagles got on the board on a 26-yard field goal by Tripp Bryant. The scoring drive was highlighted by a JC French IV 52-yard pass to Marcus Sanders Jr.
Old Dominion added a touchdown run, its fifth of the game, at the end of the third quarter. The Eagles' MJ Stroud forced a fumble late in the fourth quarter, recovered by Chris Crouch, at the 22-yard line of the Monarchs. Turner Helton then connected with Dylan Gary for an 11-yard touchdown pass for each player's first touchdown as an Eagle.
The Monarchs were led offensively by Colton Joseph's 12-for-18 passing for 140 yards and a touchdown, along with 189 rushing yards and a touchdown.
JC French IV went 16-for-24 passing for the Eagles for 147 yards, while Helton finished 9-for-16 passing for 49 yards and a touchdown. Sanders Jr made four catches for a team-high 88 yards.
Old Dominion won its third straight over the Eagles, evening up the overall series between the two teams at 3-3.
Before the game, Georgia Southern honored 25 seniors playing in their final games at Paulson Stadium in a Senior Day ceremony: RB OJ Arnold, WR Camden Brown, OL Chance Carroll, WR Dalen Cobb, OL Caleb Cook, DB Chris Crouch, DL Da'Shawn Davis, TE Ethan Dirrim, DL Jacob Ferguson, TE Ahmon Green, DB Prince Green III, LB Brendan Harrington, DB Tracy Hill Jr., DL Latrell Bullard, DB Jeremiah Holmes, DB Justin Meyers, DB Ethan Pouncey, DL Davion Rhodes, RB Jamarian Samuel, WR Marcus Sanders Jr., DB Dorrian Smith, OL Chandler Strong, LS Jackson Wheeler, OL Pichon Wimbley and LS Gaines Wood.
