CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers pulled off a phenomenal four-touchdown deficit with a redshirt freshman quarterback to defeat the Old Dominion Monarchs 38-35 in overtime in the Famous Toastery Bowl.
The Hilltoppers (8-5) tied the game in the final minute of the fourth quarter to complete a 28-point comeback to force overtime. Western Kentucky's defense blocked an Old Dominion (6-7) field goal on the first possession of overtime before Cornelius, NC native Lucas Carneiro converted a 29-yard kick to win the game for the Hilltoppers.
Old Dominion took a commanding 28-0 lead in the first half with three offensive touchdowns and a pick-six. Western Kentucky had three turnovers before the team found its first points midway through the second quarter. Charlotte native Tahj Ra-El intercepted a pass for Old Dominion late in the first half.
The Hilltoppers pulled within a touchdown with three Caden Veltkamp touchdown passes in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Old Dominion quarterback Grant Wilson rushed for his second score on the ground in the third quarter to give the Monarchs a slight buffer.
But fortunes were with Western Kentucky on Monday. Old Dominion's attempt at a game-sealing field goal with two minutes left in regulation was blocked by the Hilltoppers.
Western Kentucky pushed all 64 necessary yards downfield on the ensuing drive to miraculously tie the game at 35-35. The drive was capped off by a Veltkamp touchdown pass to K.D. Hutchinson on 4th-and-goal from the 15-yard line.
Veltkamp, a redshirt freshman, completed 40 of 52 passes for 383 yards passing with five touchdowns and one interception. Austin Reed, the Hilltoppers' primary starting quarterback this season, chose to sit out the game. Reed's backup, Turner Helton, was benched after the pick-six in the first half. Veltkamp threw just two passes this season before having a highlight reel of a day on Monday.
Wilson finished 13 of 22 for 123 yards passing with one touchdown and one interception. Wilson also ran for a game-high 126 yards rushing with two scores.
Charlotte's Jerry Richardson Stadium hosted the Famous Toastery Bowl for the first time. The game was initially going to be hosted in the Bahamas as the Bahamas Bowl, but renovations to the Thomas Robinson Stadium forced the game to find another venue. It was the first bowl game hosted at the 49ers' stadium.
Charlotte sports fans will have another chance to see a bowl game in the Queen City this month when North Carolina faces West Virginia in the Duke's Mayo Bowl on Dec. 27 at Bank of America Stadium.