It was something of an offensive shootout in Wednesday’s first bowl game with Western Kentucky facing James Madison in the Boca Raton Bowl. The Hilltoppers and Dukes are no strangers to playing offense – Western Kentucky excels throwing the ball while James Madison knows how to run.
Things looked to be headed south when Hilltoppers quarterback and Conference USA Player of the Year Caden Veltkamp announced he would be entering the transfer portal. However, he took part in one last ride with his teammates and to lead a passing game that was 32nd in the country.
Just as scripted, the Dukes spread things out with Billy Atkins under center. James Madison managed to garner 214 yards on the ground and 182 yards passing, leading to a decisive 27-17 victory.
Veltkamp put up a solid game with 302 yards passing and two touchdowns, but it was the onslaught of pressure the Dukes imposed late in the game that mattered most. The Hilltoppers were stifled in the fourth quarter and gave up a fumble late to a surging Khairi Manns.
Wednesday was the first meeting between Western Kentucky and James Madison. It meant a great deal to the Dukes, who claimed the first bowl win in program history. Here are the best moments from the Boca Raton Bowl.
James Madison beats Western Kentucky, 27-17
James Madison is riding into the sunset with more pep in its step. The Dukes claim the Boca Raton Bowl with a late offensive surge, 27-17. Wednesday’s victory is the first bowl win in the program’s history.
James Madison 27, Western Kentucky 17: Dukes forced fumble nets field goal
The Dukes are rolling at the moment to close this game. Caden Veltkamp and the Hilltoppers, relying heavily on the passing game, dropped back into peril. Khairi Manns caught the QB just before he let loose and recovered the ensuing fumble.
The spoils of the defensive play were that James Madison wasted some time and capped it all off with three more points.
James Madison 24, Western Kentucky 17: Atkins connects with Thompson
The Hilltoppers have some work to do. Billy Atkins is doing his best to make this a shootout and puts the Dukes up by seven with just over nine minutes to go in the game.
He drives 75 yards, finishing off this beautiful drive with a nicely placed 21-yard toss to Taylor Thompson for a touchdown and the lead.
Western Kentucky 17, James Madison 17: Hilltopper field goal ties game
The Hilltoppers go 62 yards to get within range. Justin Caneiro’s 31-yard field goal takes this game into overtime territory once again. We are tied here in the fourth quarter.
End of third quarter: James Madison 17, Western Kentucky 14
James Madison is back in front heading into the fourth quarter after adding 10 points out of halftime. However Western Kentucky is in James Madison territory with an opportunity to tie or take the lead.
James Madison 17, Western Kentucky 14: Dukes take lead off turnover
A failed trick play resulted in James Madison recapturing the lead. Western Kentucky tried to run a double pass but the toss behind the line of scrimmage couldn’t be hauled in by Dalvin Smith, resulting in a fumble recovered by James Madison.
Set up in Western Kentucky territory, the Dukes drove the ball all the way to the 10-yard line before getting to fourth down. James Madison opted to kick it and Noe Ruelas made an easy 28-yard field goal, his first make of the night after missing his first two attempts.
Western Kentucky 14, James Madison 14: Long drive results in tie game
It took 11 plays and a fourth down conversion for James Madison to find the end zone again and tie the game up. The Dukes haven’t had much success throwing it, but JC Evans showed off the arm to get his team down the field. The team faced a fourth-and-1 at the 6-yard line and were able to convert it, and the score came on the next play with Evans finding Kyi Wright for a 1-yard touchdown.
Halftime: Western Kentucky 14, James Madison 7
A 14-point second quarter by Western Kentucky has the Hilltoppers out in front midway through the Boca Raton Bowl.
Both teams have played to their strengths with Western Kentucky quarterback Caden Veltkamp throwing for 163 yards and James Madison running for 110 yards. However, the Dukes have struggled in the air and that’s what has killed drives. James Madison also missed two field goals − one that just missed and another that was blocked on the final play before halftime.
Western Kentucky 14, James Madison 7: Hilltoppers take lead right before halftime
The lead now belongs to Western Kentucky after Caden Veltkamp placed the ball perfectly into Dalvin Smith’s hands for an 11-yard touchdown pass. With a little bit of time left in the first half, the Hilltoppers went 83 yards down the field in just under two minutes thanks to big plays through the air.
James Madison 7, Western Kentucky 7: Hilltoppers tie game
Western Kentucky responded with its first touchdown of the game with another score off the arm of Caden Veltkamp. The Hilltoppers’ signal-caller found Moussa Barry for a 17-yard strike to cap a drive that started in James Madison territory.
End of first quarter: James Madison 7, Western Kentucky 0
A touchdown run was the only score in the first quarter of the Boca Raton Bowl with James Madison leading.
Backup quarterback JC Evans did most of the damage with his legs, including when he ran for a 7-yard touchdown. James Madison loves to run the ball, and 73 of its 88 yards in the first frame came on the ground.
There were mistakes made by both sides, with James Madison failing to convert a fourth down play on its own side of the field and Western Kentucky fumbling in the opponent’s territory.
James Madison 7, Western Kentucky 0: Backup QB comes in to score
Freshman quarterback JC Evans didn’t get the start on Wednesday, but he did come in and provided big runs to get James Madison on the board.
Used primarily for his running ability, Evans ran for 27 yards on the second play of the drive to get into Western Kentucky territory. He then had a 7-yard run for a touchdown to cap the drive. He accounted for 43 of the 77 yards on the scoring drive.
When is the Boca Raton Bowl between Western Kentucky and JMU?
The kickoff for the Boca Raton Bowl game between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the James Madison Dukes at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, is Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. ET.
How to watch Western Kentucky and JMU in the Boca Raton Bowl
The Boca Raton Bowl game between the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the James Madison Dukes will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Live streaming is available on Fubo, which has a free trial.
Western Kentucky vs. James Madison odds, line
The James Madison Dukes are the favorites to defeat the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in the Boca Raton Bowl, according to the BetMGM college football odds on Wednesday afternoon.
Spread: James Madison (-7)
Moneyline: James Madison (-275); Western Kentucky (+225)
Over/under: 50.5
Watch Western Kentucky and James Madison in the Boca Raton Bowl with a free Fubo trial
Western Kentucky vs. James Madison: Boca Raton Bowl predictions
USA TODAY: JMU is the unanimous pick
Scooby Axon: James Madison
Jordan Mendoza: James Madison
Paul Myerberg: James Madison
Erick Smith: James Madison
Eddie Timanus: James Madison
Dan Wolken: James Madison
ESPN: Western Kentucky 28, James Madison 26
‘Both teams are capable enough on defense and can spread the ball around in the passing game, as WKU’s Caden Veltkamp has 23 touchdown passes. Hilltoppers coach Tyson Helton is 4-1 in bowls, though, and will add a close win to his ledger.’
College Football News: James Madison 34, Western Kentucky 16
‘This one will be rough. Not only is WKU hammered by the transfer portal, but James Madison star QB Alonza Barnett III is hurting with an apparent leg injury (and won’t play). James Madison should be okay enough to get by. There’s a decent next-man-up thing happening with this team, but WKU is way too (hurt) by losses to hold up.’
The Athletic: James Madison wins
All nine experts at The Athletic picked James Madison to beat Western Kentucky in the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl.
BetMGM: JMU wins, WKU covers
BetMGM’s betting model gives James Madison a 70.5% chance of beating Western Kentucky, as of Friday, December 13, based on game simulations, offensive and defensive matchups and recent game result. But the model predicts with 55.1% confidence that Western Kentucky will cover the spread.
USA Today college football bowl schedule
James Madison vs. Western Kentucky all-time record
Wednesday’s Boca Raton Bowl marks the first time that the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the James Madison Dukes have faced off in their respective programs’ histories.
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