WKU Football defeated Jacksonville State 19-17 Saturday, clinching a spot in the Conference USA Championship game with a game-winning 50-yard field goal by kicker Lucas Carneiro at Houchens-Smith Stadium. 

With three seconds remaining, Carneiro nailed a 50-yard field goal to lift the Hilltoppers over the Gamecocks. The win clinched WKU’s first conference championship appearance since 2021. 

Carneiro knocked down four field goals on the night, including two from 50 yards out.  He knocked down his lone extra point attempt.

Sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp had a big day, throwing for 301 yards and a touchdown. His lone touchdown throw was to senior running back Elijah Young, who had 78 yards receiving on seven catches. He added 91 yards rushing on 4.8 yards per carry.

Freshman tight end Noah Meyers had 88 yards receiving on four catches, matching his season numbers in one game. Sophomore wide receiver Easton Messer added 84 yards receiving.

Jacksonville State lost quarterback Tyler Huff during the second half. He finished with 37 yards passing on three completions and an interception. The Gamecocks had 328 total yards, with 229 coming on the ground. They had 5.3 yards per rush.

The Hilltoppers held Jacksonville State to 2-13 on third down and just 99 passing yards in the game.

WKU will travel to Jacksonville State for a re-match Friday, Dec. 6 for the C-USA championship.

First Quarter

WKU received the ball to open the game. They went three and out after losing six yards on a pass, punting to the Gamecocks, who drove the ball down to the WKU 30. On third-and-5, junior defensive back Demarko Williams intercepted a pass to give WKU the ball at their  24-yard line.  

The Hilltoppers drove seven plays for 76 yards, capped off by a 21-yard touchdown pass from Veltkamp to Young making it 7-0 with 8:48 left in the first.`

The two teams then traded punts. 

On Jacksonville State’s third drive, they took the ball 53 yards in five plays, with 51 of those coming on the ground by Gamecocks quarterback Tyler Huff. Jacksonville State made a 46-yard field goal setting the score at 7-3 with 3:19 left in the first. 

Both teams went three-and-out to end the first quarter.

Second Quarter

After another WKU punt, the Gamecocks turned the ball over on downs after being stopped short on fourth and 2. The Hilltoppers took the ball to the Jacksonville State 17-yard line. On third-and-11, Veltkamp was sacked and fumbled, which the Gamecocks recovered at their 25-yard line. 

The Gamecocks were unable to capitalize on the turnover, punting after six plays. WKU went three-and-out right after that.

Starting at the WKU 47-yard line, Jacksonville State drove 47 yards in six plays, where Gamecocks running back Tre Stewart capped the drive off with an 8-yard touchdown, giving Jacksonville State a 10-7 lead with 3:42 left in the half. 

The Hilltoppers responded with a nine-play, 53-yard drive that ended in a Lucas Carneiro 50-yard field goal to tie the game with 41 seconds remaining. 

The Gamecocks ran it out, tying the game at halftime, 10-10.

Third Quarter

The Gamecocks opened the second half with a punt, giving the Hilltoppers the ball at their  18-yard line. 

WKU drove 79 yards down the field in 15 plays, ending with a 21-yard field goal by Carneiro. WKU regained the lead 13-10. 

The Gamecocks went three-and-out again. 

The next Hilltopper drive ended in their second turnover-on-downs of the day, with Veltkamp unable to convert the fourth-and-1.  The Gamecocks went three-and-out again following the turnover-on-downs.

Fourth Quarter

In a drive that extended into the beginning of the fourth quarter, WKU drove 72 yards in 13 plays, where Carneiro knocked down his third field goal of the game from 35 yards out.

The Gamecocks answered quickly, scoring a touchdown in five plays on a 75-yard drive, capped off by a 17-yard touchdown run by Jacksonville State running back Logan Smothers.  The Gamecocks took their first lead since the second quarter 17-16.

With a third-and-13 at the WKU 15-yard-line, Veltkamp found Michael Mathison for a 32-yard pass, but the play was called back due to offensive holding. WKU went three-and-out.  The two teams traded three-and-outs as the game went under four minutes remaining.

Jacksonville State was forced to punt after five plays. With the game and a conference championship game appearance on the line, WKU drove 44 yards in 10 plays, setting up a game-winning field goal by Carneiro, his second from 50 yards away to give WKU a 19-17 lead with three seconds remaining.

After going down on the kick-off on a squib kick, Jacksonville State attempted to win the game off of laterals, but the pass was dropped as time expired, securing the WKU win.

WKU will rematch the Gamecocks on Dec. 6 in Jacksonville, Alabama for the CUSA Championship Game.

Sports Reporter Michael Givner Jr. can be reached at [email protected].