This one stings.
WKU football took Boston College to the wire Saturday, but ultimately fell short, 21-20, in nauseating fashion.
Here are my thoughts on WKU’s loss at Boston College, if you can bear to relive it.
Defense Continues to Shine
After an amazing performance at home against Toledo, I was concerned a tough road game against Boston College would stunt any momentum the WKU defense gathered against the Rockets.
But I’ll be the first to say – and I’ll say it loudly – that I was wrong.
The Hilltoppers held the run-heavy Eagles to 111 yards rushing, the second lowest mark BC has had all year. And while BC was victim to a last minute quarterback change, WKU held backup Grayson James to 168 yards through the air.
This performance is the first time WKU has allowed 21 points or less in back-to-back games since Nov. 12, 2022, a game that saw WKU beat Rice 45-10.
As quarterback Caden Veltkamp continues to settle into his new role, it’s vital that the defense continues to play at this level, especially headed into Conference USA play.
Veltkamp looked better but still hasn’t fully settled as a starter
It’s been two games of Veltkamp at the helm and I’d say his starts have been a bit underwhelming.
I am weary to say that the redshirt sophomore quarterback has been seemingly disappointing as the starter because of the very high expectations he set coming off the bench. Veltkamp threw for a combined 781 yards and 10 touchdowns in last year’s bowl game against Old Dominion and this year’s game against MTSU.
In his two outings as a starter, he has thrown for 474 yards and three touchdowns. Perhaps the most troubling stat is the four interceptions in the two games.
However, I am doing my best to take this with a grain of salt.
Even with the underwhelming play, WKU was a hypothetical score away from a 2-0 start under his reign and a hypothetical score away from being 2-0 against two really solid squads.
With a bye week and 0-4 UTEP on the horizon, this feels like the perfect stretch for Veltkamp to settle into the starter role headed into conference play.
Accept the Moral Victories
I know the old cliche of “no moral victories” in sports, but WKU can and should be proud as they leave Chestnut Hill.
WKU went into a packed parents weekend environment against a Power 4 team and almost escaped the hostility with a win.
WKU’s last power conference games were a 63-10 loss to Ohio State and a 63-0 loss against Alabama. I know the Buckeyes and Crimson Tide aren’t exactly comparable to the Eagles – no shade to BC – but to go into a tough environment against a tough team and play a tough game is a feat that had been foreign to Hilltopper teams in the past.
What’s Next
Unfortunately, the sting from this one may stick with Hilltopper faithful for a bit longer than usual. WKU won’t play another game until Thursday, Oct. 10 when they take on the UTEP Miners.
At the moment, UTEP sits at 0-4 and in last place in C-USA.
Sports editor Jake McMahon can be reached at [email protected]
