Old Dominion beats Eastern Michigan 24-20 in Bahamas Bowl

David Washington threw three touchdowns passes, Ray Lawry ran for 133 yards and Old Dominion beat Eastern Michigan 24-20 on Friday in the Bahamas Bowl.

Old Dominion (10-3) won in its first bowl appearance in school history. The Monarchs didn’t play football for 69 years before restarting the program in 2009. They made the transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2013.

Eastern Michigan (7-6) lost in its first bowl appearance since 1987. The Eagles were led by Brogan Roback, who completed 26 of 46 passes for 300 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Roback threw for at least 300 yards in six of his final seven games.

Old Dominion had a 10-0 halftime lead, but Eastern Michigan rallied to tie the game at 17 late in the third quarter when Paul Fricano made a 24-yard field goal.

The Monarchs bounced back with Washington’s third touchdown pass, which went for five yards to Jonathan Duhart and put Old Dominion up 24-17.

ODU controlled the game in the first half and an impressive 47-yard touchdown throw from Washington to Zach Pascal gave the Monarchs their 10-0 halftime advantage.

Washington — who was a receiver earlier in his collegiate career — evaded multiple Eastern Michigan defenders on the play, before stepping up and throwing to Pascal in the end zone.