SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 26, 2014
Middle Tennessee 41, Old Dominion 28: Austin Grammer threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as the visiting Blue Raiders held on to top the Monarchs.
Jordan Parker rushed 31 times for 158 yards for the Blue Raiders (3-2, 2-0 Conference USA), who had a 280-41 advantage on the ground and held the ball for over 38 minutes. Grammer completed 25-of-30 passes for 259 yards while Kevin Byard returned a punt for a touchdown and recorded an interception as Middle Tennessee won the first-ever meeting between the programs.
Taylor Heinicke was 29-for-44 for 362 yards and four touchdowns but threw three picks as the Monarchs (3-2, 1-1) dropped their Conference USA home opener. Antonio Vaughan caught three of Heinicke's TD passes and finished with 105 yards receiving.
Heinicke answered Grammer's second TD run with a third scoring strike to Vaughan to get Old Dominion within 31-21 late in the third and had another reply to a Grammer TD pass when he found Marques Little to make it 38-28 with 8:50 remaining. An ensuing onside kick failed and Parker picked up 37 yards on four straight carries to set up a field goal that capped the scoring.
Byard's 76-yard punt return for a touchdown gave Middle Tennessee an early 10-0 lead and Grammer took advantage of Heinicke's second interception of the first half with a 27-yard connection to Shane Tucker to make it 17-0 early in the second quarter. Grammer scored on the ground moments later for a 24-point advantage but Heinicke had TD passes to Vaughan before and after halftime to make it 24-14.