ODU advances past NSU 35-18

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - Taylor Heinicke threw five touchdown passes to lead Old Dominion to a 35-18 victory over Norfolk State on Saturday in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

The Monarchs (10-2), who tied for second in the Colonial Athletic Association, will play at third-seeded Georgia Southern next Saturday.

Heinicke, who was 21 of 30 for 269 yards, threw for two scores to Nick Mayers, two to Prentice Gill and one to Larry Pinkard.

Old Dominion's first touchdown came on the possession after the Spartans (9-3), champions of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, scored first on Derrick Demps' 98-yard touchdown reception from Chris Walley.

Old Dominion, which resumed football in 2009 after a 69-year absence and hosted the game between schools located 5 miles apart, led 21-7 at halftime.

Two of the Monarchs touchdowns came after interceptions of Walley, who was picked off just four times on 305 regular-season passes.