Western Kentucky pulls off INSANE 28-point comeback to defeat Old Dominion 38-35 in overtime – after tying the game with their final play – as they clinch Famous Toastery Bowl
- Caden Veltkamp threw for 383 yards and five touchdowns to lead the comeback
- Veltkamp came off the bench to replace Turner Helton, who started the game
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The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers staged a 28-point comeback against Old Dominion to win the Famous Toastery Bowl 38-35 in overtime.
Redshirt freshman Caden Veltkamp came off the bench and threw for 383 yards and five touchdowns after replacing Turner Helton under center.
Veltkamp spent the season as the third-string quarterback and was forced into action after Helton was vastly unprepared to replace starting QB Austin Reed, who did not play in the game.
Reed had started every game at quarterback for the Hilltoppers this season.
Heading into Monday's game, Veltkamp had completed just six passes in his entire college career.
Western Kentucky staged a shocking 28-point comeback to defeat Old Dominion 38-35
The Hilltoppers convert a game-winning 28-yard field goal to win the Famous Toastery Bowl
Field goal kicker Lucas Carneiro was carried off the field by his teammates after the victory
Veltkamp was able to force the game into overtime when he threw a 15-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal with 19 seconds left in regulation time.
The Hilltoppers blocked a short field goal attempt in overtime — their second blocked kick of the game — before Lucas Carneiro made a game-winning 29-yard field goal.
Western Kentucky's Dalvin Smith had nine receptions for 77 yards and three touchdown catches, two of which he speared with one hand.
The Hilltoppers (8-5) played without starting quarterback Austin Reed, who withdrew from the game to prepare for the NFL draft. Veltkamp took over for Turner Helton halfway through the first quarter with their team trailing 21-0.
The Hilltoppers would ultimately fall 28-0 in the second quarter.
Grant Wilson ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns and threw for another for Old Dominion (6-7). Kris Caine returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown and Kadarius Calloway added a rushing touchdown for the Monarchs.
Wilson got the Monarchs on the right track when he raced through a huge hole in the line for a 79-yard run – the longest run by a quarterback in ODU history – to set up a 1-yard touchdown pass to Isiah Page to make.
Two quick Helton errors led to two more ODU touchdowns.
The Hilltoppers would make a comeback with Smith catch a pass out of the air one-handed on a crossing route and needed 17 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 28-14 with 10:24 left in the third quarter.
After Wilson scored a 21-yard scramble to make it a 21-point game, Veltkamp responded with two more touchdown passes – a 37-yard strike to Elijah Young and his third scoring throw to Smith – to cut the lead to 35 -28.
Quarterback Caden Veltkamp threw for 383 yards and five touchdowns to lead the comeback
Veltkamp replaced fellow quarterback Turner Helton who started the game and played poorly
Old Dominion tried to make it a two-possession game, but Ethan Sanchez's 47-yard field goal was blocked, giving the Hilltoppers one last chance with 2:53 to go.
Western Kentucky quickly reached the Monarchs 5 behind a 30-yard reception by Jimmy Holiday and a penalty on ODU.
Wayne Matthews sacked Veltkamp on third down, but Veltkamp responded with a 15-yard touchdown pass on fourth down and a goal to KD Hutchinson with 19 seconds left to tie the game at 35 and send it to overtime .
This was the first year for the bowl in Charlotte. Normally it is the Bahamas Bowl, but it was moved to the mainland because the stadium renovations in Nassau were not completed.