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  • Old Dominion Holds South Florida Scoreless In The Second Half To Win The Cure Bowl, 24-10

Old Dominion Holds South Florida Scoreless In The Second Half To Win The Cure Bowl, 24-10

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Football

(BCSNN) - Old Dominion capped one of the finest seasons in program history with a 24-10 victory over South Florida in the 11th annual StaffDNA Cure Bowl Wednesday night at Camping World Stadium.

The Monarchs (10-3) reached 10 wins for the first time since 2016, closing the year on a six-game winning streak that included a landmark 45-26 road triumph at Virginia Tech. The Cure Bowl win marked head coach Ricky Rahne’s first bowl victory in three tries, coming just days after he signed a new four-year contract.

Quarterback Quinn Henicle, making only his second career start, earned MVP honors. Despite a shaky beginning, Henicle rushed 24 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns, including a 51-yard clincher with 2:57 remaining. “He has so much competitiveness and fight in him,” Rahne said. “He was able to will the team to a win.”

ODU’s defense forced five turnovers, including two interceptions by Jerome Carter, who set a new single-season program record with six. Trequan Jones added a 22-yard touchdown run, while Devin Roche rushed for 100 yards on 19 carries.

The game was physical and chippy, with both starting quarterbacks knocked out on hard tackles. Henicle returned, while USF’s Gaston Moore did not. The Bulls (8-5), who had beaten Florida and Boise State earlier this season, never scored again after taking a 10-7 lead in the second quarter.

Rahne, emotional after the win, handed the trophy to fifth-year defensive tackle Kris Trinidad. “I’m so glad for these guys that they were able to win a championship,” Rahne said. “They’ve earned rings, and those rings will remind them for the rest of their lives of their teammates and the very special team they played for this season.”

Nearly 2,000 Monarch fans filled the stands, turning Camping World Stadium into a home atmosphere. “I love and appreciate our fans,” Rahne said. “They not only showed up in big numbers, they were loud.”

The victory solidified ODU’s place among the best teams in school history, with a balanced offense, opportunistic defense, and resilient spirit defining their season.