Dec 18, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) runs the ball against the Old Dominion Monarchs during the first quarter at Charlotte 49ers' Jerry Richardson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

W. Kentucky rallies to stun Old Dominion in Famous Toastery Bowl

Caden Veltkamp came off the bench to pass for 383 yards and five touchdowns and Western Kentucky overcame a 28-point deficit to notch a 38-35 overtime victory over Old Dominion on Monday afternoon at the Famous Toastery Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.

Lucas Carneiro kicked the decisive 29-yard field goal on the Hilltoppers’ first overtime possession to end it. The kick came after Talique Allen blocked a 23-yard field-goal attempt by Ethan Sanchez on Old Dominion’s possession.

Veltkamp completed 40 of 52 passes with one interception and also rushed for a team-high 53 yards for Western Kentucky (8-5). Dalvin Smith caught three touchdown passes, two of them one-handed, for the Hilltoppers.

Grant Wilson rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 123 yards and a TD for Old Dominion (6-7). Kris Caine returned an interception for a touchdown but the Monarchs failed to win despite forcing five turnovers.

Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed opted out of the contest and Veltkamp led a late-game charge with 21 fourth-quarter points to force overtime.

The Hilltoppers pulled within 35-21 when Elijah Young caught a short pass, hurdled a defender and ran down the right sideline for a 37-yard scoring play with 14:09 remaining in regulation.

Less than 4 1/2 minutes later, the Hilltoppers moved within seven when Smith — using two hands — grabbed a 14-yard touchdown pass from Veltkamp.

Western Kentucky knotted the score with 19 seconds left when Veltkamp threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to K.D. Hutchinson on fourth-and-goal.

Old Dominion forced four first-half turnovers while taking early control of the contest.

The Monarchs drove 89 yards on five plays on the game-opening drive for the early lead. Wilson’s 79-yard keeper set up the score and he completed the excursion with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Isiah Page.

Turner Helton drew the start for Western Kentucky with Reed sitting out, and he made miscues on his two possessions before being pulled.

First, Helton was sacked by Denzel Lowry and fumbled the ball and it was recovered by LaMareon James as Old Dominion took over at the Hilltoppers’ 17-yard line. Four plays later, Kadarius Calloway scored from the 5 to make it 14-0 with 9:06 left in the opening quarter.

Just 1:12 later, the Monarchs held a 21-point lead as Caine intercepted Helton and returned it 30 yards for a score.

Old Dominion pushed the lead to 28-0 when Wilson scored on an 11-yard run with 13:38 left in the first half.

Western Kentucky got on the board with 8:14 left in the half when Smith made a one-handed touchdown grab on a 14-yard toss from Veltkamp.

Smith’s second stellar grab came on an 18-yard touchdown pass to pull the Hilltoppers within 28-14 with 10:24 left in the third quarter.

Old Dominion answered on Wilson’s 21-yard scoring run to take a 35-14 lead with 3:04 left in the quarter.

–Field Level Media

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers wide receiver Malachi Corley (11) turns up field after making a catch as Auburn Tigers take on Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Auburn Tigers and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are tied 17-17 at halftime.

WKU’s Malachi Corley carries chip into clash vs. ODU in Famous Toastery Bowl

In a college football climate where top players routinely sit out of bowl games, Malachi Corley is bucking the trend.

The Western Kentucky star receiver will suit up for the Hilltoppers one last time when they face Old Dominion on Monday afternoon in the Famous Toastery Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.

In the regular-season finale victory over Florida International, Corley became Western Kentucky’s career record holder with 255 receptions and became the third Hilltopper to top 3,000 receiving yards. He also stands second in program history with 29 touchdown catches.

Plus, his ability to chew up yards after the catch has led to projections that he could go as high as the second round in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Regardless, Corley is all set to play when Western Kentucky (7-5) meets Old Dominion (6-6).

“Specifically, my brother and my trainer don’t want me to play in this game,” Corley said, according to the Bowling Green Daily News. “I feel like the scouts, the people that are in charge of the bowls, they also feel like I don’t play in this game as well. They feel like I have nothing to prove.

“But for myself, I feel like I have everything to prove. That’s the chip I carry myself every single day. I feel like I have everything to prove to everybody.”

Corley is 42 yards away from a second straight 1,000-yard receiving season. He has 75 receptions and has tied his career high of 11 scoring catches.

Quarterback Austin Reed has thrown for 3,340 yards and 31 touchdowns, with 11 interceptions, for Western Kentucky, which averages 29.8 points per game.

Safety Kendrick Simpkins has 10 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles. Hilltoppers cornerback Anthony Johnson Jr. has three interceptions.

The top player on Old Dominion, All-America linebacker Jason Henderson, won’t play Monday after sustaining a season-ending leg injury in the Monarchs’ 25-24 win over Georgia State on Nov. 25.

“Everyone’s just got to come together,” Old Dominion coach Ricky Rahne told reporters. “Obviously we know we’re losing an All-American-type player, but also I think our guys are going to step up to the challenge.”

Linebacker Wayne Matthews III also is enjoying a strong season with 121 tackles.

Offensively, Monarchs quarterback Grant Wilson has thrown for 2,026 yards and 16 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. Old Dominion averages 22.9 points per game.

The bowl game is the third for Old Dominion at the FBS level. Old Dominion beat Eastern Michigan 24-20 at the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl and lost to Tulsa 30-17 at the 2021 Myrtle Beach Bowl.

Western Kentucky is 6-3 in FBS bowl games and is making its fifth straight appearance. The Hilltoppers routed South Alabama 44-23 in last season’s New Orleans Bowl.

Western Kentucky holds a 6-1 record against Old Dominion, including a 43-20 road win in 2021.

–Field Level Media