Western Kentucky overcomes 28-0 deficit to win Famous Toastery Bowl in OT
The biggest comeback of bowl season might have already happened.
Old Dominion jumped all over Western Kentucky for a 28-0 lead in Monday’s Famous Toastery Bowl only to see the Hilltoppers rally for a 38-35 victory in overtime.
Western Kentucky saw Old Dominion score 28 points in the first 16:22 of the game.
The deficit was still 35-14 entering the fourth quarter.
However, the Hilltoppers’ Caden Veltkamp threw three TD passes in the fourth quarter to force overtime.
The Hilltoppers blocked a short field goal attempt in overtime — their second blocked kick of the game — before Carneiro drilled his.
The three Western Kentucky scoring drives covered 208 yards.
Veltkamp, a third-string quarterback who is in the Transfer Portal, came off the bench to throw for 383 yards and 5 TDs.
Western Kentucky’s Famous Toastery Bowl:
– Committed five turnovers
– Third-string QB took over
– Trailed 28-0
– Blocked a FG down 7 late
– Scored the tying TD on 4th-and-long
– Blocked a FG in OT
– Won with a FG in OTFOR ALL THE TOAST pic.twitter.com/5kDf49oNXA
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 18, 2023
The Hilltoppers blocked a short field goal attempt in overtime — their second blocked kick of the game — before Lucas Carneiro won the game from 29 yards.
Western Kentucky’s Famous Toastery Bowl:
– Committed five turnovers
– Third-string QB took over
– Trailed 28-0
– Blocked a FG down 7 late
– Scored the tying TD on 4th-and-long
– Blocked a FG in OT
– Won with a FG in OTFOR ALL THE TOAST pic.twitter.com/5kDf49oNXA
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 18, 2023
This was the first year for the bowl in Charlotte. It is normally the Bahamas Bowl but was moved to the mainland because stadium renovations in Nassau were not complete.
Big Red Toast Angel!!!!!! @SickosCommittee pic.twitter.com/IukdRiacjT
— Micah Beutell (@MBeutell25) December 18, 2023
We have a toast angel @SickosCommittee pic.twitter.com/pz6f6RC3Lq
— Micah Beutell (@MBeutell25) December 18, 2023
How the comeback happened:
 | TD 13:38 Grant Wilson 11 Yd Run (Ethan Sanchez Kick) 10 plays, 81 yards, 3:15 | 0 | 28 |
 | TD 8:14 Dalvin Smith 14 Yd pass from Caden Veltkamp (Lucas Carneiro Kick) 10 plays, 77 yards, 5:24 | 7 | 28 |
WKU | ODU | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| TD 10:24 Dalvin Smith 18 Yd pass from Caden Veltkamp (Lucas Carneiro Kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:36 | 14 | 28 |
| TD 3:04 Grant Wilson 21 Yd Run (Ethan Sanchez Kick) 9 plays, 72 yards, 4:05 | 14 | 35 |
WKU | ODU | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| TD 14:09 Elijah Young 37 Yd pass from Caden Veltkamp (Lucas Carneiro Kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:55 | 21 | 35 |
| TD 9:42 Dalvin Smith 14 Yd pass from Caden Veltkamp (Lucas Carneiro Kick) 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:12 | 28 | 35 |
| TD 0:19 K.D. Hutchinson 15 Yd pass from Caden Veltkamp (Lucas Carneiro Kick) 9 plays, 64 yards, 2:34 | 35 | 35 |
WKU | ODU | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| FG Lucas Carneiro 29 Yd Field Goal 6 plays, 14 yards | 38 | 35 |
