James Madison used strong second half defense Wednesday night, defeating WKU 27-17 in the Boca Raton Bowl.
The Hilltoppers were held to just three points and 139 yards in the second half. With three minutes remaining in the game, sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp was strip-sacked, leading to a JMU field goal putting them up 10 with less than two minutes left.
“Congratulations to James Madison,” Head Coach Tyson Helton said in the postgame interview. “They played a good game. We had our opportunities, but we didn’t capitalize on them, so hats off to them. I appreciate the bowl for another great bowl. Our guys really enjoyed it and hopefully we can make it back here again.”
The Hilltoppers only rushed for 16 yards on the day, with three players rushing in the negative for the game. The team averaged 0.8 yards per carry.
Veltkamp, who entered the transfer portal on Dec. 10, threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns. One of them went to senior wide receiver Dalvin Smith, who recorded two catches for 76 yards.
James Madison held WKU to their lowest score in a bowl game since their 2017 Cure Bowl loss versus Georgia State.
The Dukes forced three turnovers, all fumbles. JMU held the Hilltoppers to 5-14 third down conversion efficiency and dominated the time of possession, 36:32 to 23:28.
First Quarter
James Madison received the ball to open the game. The Dukes and WKU went three-and-out on their opening drives.
The Dukes drove 77 yards in seven plays, aided by a WKU personal foul penalty and a 27-yard run on an option play. The Dukes scored first on a QB keeper for a 7-yard touchdown run, taking a 7-0 lead with eight minutes remaining in the first.
The following drive, Veltkamp had wide receiver Easton Messer open for a first down, but the pass was dropped, forcing a WKU three-and-out.
JMU’s third drive ended on a fourth down stop by WKU
On the following drive, at the JMU 26-yard line, Veltkamp found wide receiver K.D. Hutchinson, but he was stripped as he attempted to get a first down on third and 12. The Dukes recovered at their 15-yard line with three minutes left in the first.
Second Quarter
After a JMU three-and-out, WKU drove 48 yards in eight plays, capping the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Veltkamp to wide receiver Moussa Barry, tying the game 7-7 with 13:34 left in the half.
The Dukes drove 35 yards in eight plays, settling for a 47-yard field goal, which they missed wide right.
The Hilltoppers and Dukes traded punts before WKU went 83 yards on seven plays for a Dalvin Smith receiving touchdown, taking a 14-7 lead.
JMU used five plays to set themselves up for a 56-yard field goal at the end of the half, however, WKU blocked the kick as time expired.
Third Quarter
WKU opened the second half with a three-and-out.
The Dukes took their opening drive of the second half 71 yards in 11 plays, finishing the drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass, tying that game 14-14 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
On WKU’s next drive, wide receiver Dalvin Smith fumbled after a loss of 11 on a run, which James Madison recovered, giving them the ball at the WKU 40-yard line. The Dukes drove 30 yards in eight plays, taking the lead on a 28-yard field goal.
Fourth Quarter
WKU responded with a seven-play, 62-yard drive, ending with a Lucas Carneiro 31-yard field goal, tying the game back at 17 with 14:13 remaining. The Hilltoppers reached the end zone on the drive but an offensive pass interference took the touchdown off the board.
The Dukes answered with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to take the lead, 24-17, with 9:20 left in the game.
The teams then traded three-and-outs.
With 3:38 left in the game, Veltkamp used a QB sneak on fourth and 1 to keep the drive alive, but on the very next play, he was strip-sacked, and the ball was recovered by the Dukes at the WKU 34-yard-line.
JMU iced the game on the following drive on a 25-yard field goal with under two minutes left in the game.
WKU committed a turnover on downs the following drive and the Dukes went into victory formation, kneeling the clock out en route to a 27-17 victory.
Sports Reporter Michael Givner Jr. can be reached at [email protected].
