NORFOLK (WAVY) – Old Dominion’s annual Spring scrimmage certainly wasn’t in front of the kind of crowd Old Dominion football is used to, but coach Bobby Wilder has Mother Nature–again– to thank for that.
After having three regular season games affected from storms last season, coach Wilder’s team again had to battle the elements. The game was delayed for almost an hour because of lightning before finally kicking off around 4:00 pm. Powhatan Field served as homefield because of the renovation construction still under way at SB Ballard Stadium.
Once things got underway, it was a three-way battle at quarterback, with junior college transfers Messiah DeWeaver, Stone Smartt, and redshirt-freshman Jonah Fitzgerald all trying to make their case to bea the next starter.
DeWeaver, who won a national title at East Mississippi Community College last season, completed nine of 14 passes for 88 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. Smartt, who was named the JuCo Player of the Year in California last season had the strongest day, completing 13 of 18 throws for 131 yards and two scores.
Fitzgerald threw for the most yards (180) hitting 14 of his 23 throws. He was picked off once, but showed off some speed rushing for a long touchdown in the third quarter.
The Monarchs have two more practices and one more scrimmage left before wrapping up Spring ball.
