Old Dominion football falls to Marshall 36-23 at home

Old Dominion lost 36-23 to Marshall on Saturday at S.B. Ballard Stadium. Four turnovers, including three interceptions, and a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown cost the Monarchs. The loss dropped them to 2-7 overall and 1-5 in conference play. Attendance was 17,093.

Marshall jumps out early

TJ Lester ran 4 yards for a score, then broke a 49-yard touchdown run on a one-play, eight-second drive to make it 14-0 in the first quarter. Lester finished with 76 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns.

Old Dominion answered when Maurki James scored on a 6-yard run, capping a five-play, 77-yard drive, to make it 14-7. Jorge Diaz Nicolas kicked a 35-yard field goal late in the quarter, and Marshall led 17-7 after one.

A costly end to the first half

Andrew Nelms hit a 21-yard field goal for the Monarchs to cut it to 17-10 in the second quarter. Diaz Nicolas added a 30-yarder with 1:13 left in the half. Then, on the final play of the second quarter, Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw returned a blocked field goal 100 yards for a touchdown, and Marshall led 27-10 at the break. Nelms finished 1 of 2 on field goals.

Crutchfield's pick-six keeps it close

Old Dominion opened the second half with a score. Brandon Crutchfield returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown to make it 27-17. It was the Monarchs' only defensive score.

Marshall then relied on Diaz Nicolas, who went 5 of 5 on field goals with a long of 35 yards. He kicked 34- and 30-yarders in the third and fourth quarters, then a 24-yarder with 5:52 left to make it 36-17.

Late push falls short

Old Dominion got a 15-yard boost from a Marshall personal foul on the kickoff after the last field goal, then moved quickly. Kendall Harris caught passes of 21 and 11 yards, and James ran 14 yards for a touchdown with 3:54 left. A two-point pass attempt failed, leaving it 36-23. An onside kick did not work.

The Monarchs' final possession ended on downs. Jaxon Potter was sacked twice in the final two minutes, and the Herd kneeled out the clock.

Numbers

Old Dominion outgained Marshall 409 yards to 338 and had more first downs, 20 to 17. Potter threw for 329 yards, completing 23 of 44, but was intercepted three times. Josh Rodriguez caught nine passes for 143 yards, and Harris added four catches for 79 yards. The Monarchs ran for only 80 yards on 29 carries.

Marshall ran 54 times for 196 yards and held the ball for 35:12 to Old Dominion's 24:48. The Herd were only 2 of 14 on third down. Caleb Clark-Glover, Daytione Smith and Charles McCartherens each intercepted Potter. Kenyatta Hardge had two sacks for Marshall. Jackson Forrest led Old Dominion with 12 tackles, and Mario Thompson had a sack.

Old Dominion plays at Coastal Carolina next Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. ET.