CHARLOTTE, NC (WTKR) — For awhile it looked as though Old Dominion would be celebrating a championship at the Famous Toastery Bowl, but the wheels fell off in the second half resulting in disaster.
Western Kentucky scored 21 unanswered fourth quarter points and Lucas Carneiro booted a game-winning 29-yard field goal in overtime to push the Hilltoppers past the Monarchs, 38-35.
ODU would jump out to a 28-0 lead in the second quarter. Grant Wilson found Isiah Paige for a one-yard touchdown, two plays after Wilson's 79-yard rush set the Monarchs up on their opening drive. After a fumble recover by LaMareon James, Kadarius Calloway took a handoff five yards for a rushing score to quickly give Old Dominion a 14-0 lead. Kris Caine's pick-six piled on another touchdown and Wilson would score the silver and blue's lone second quarter touchdown on an 11-yard rush.
The Hilltoppers found the endzone before halftime and then scored again on the opening drive of the third quarter, but Wilson responded with another 21-yard rushing touchdown, set up by a nice catch and run by Paige. The score would extend Old Dominion's lead to 35-14.
Western Kentucky took control from that point, scoring three times in the fourth quarter, including the game-tying tally with 19 seconds left on a 15 yard pass from Caden Veltkamp to K.D. Hutchinson.
The Monarchs got the ball to begin overtime and had three chances to score from the one-yard line, but could not find the endzone. Ethan Sanchez had his short field goal attempt blocked, the second blocked field goal of the night for WKU, setting up Carneiro's heroics.
The 28 point comeback for the Hilltoppers marks the fourth-largest in bowl history.
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Wilson finished his night completing 13 of his 22 pass attempts for 123 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He would also rush for 126 yards and the two scores. The Monarchs gained 196 yards on the ground.
Paige pulled in four catches for 63 yards and the touchdown. Wayne Matthews III and Koa Naotala each tallied a game-high 14 tackles.
Veltkamp was on fire for Western Kentucky, completing 40 of his 52 passes for 383 yards and five touchdowns. He put together his impressive line after replacing Turner Helton, who started the game for the Hilltoppers. Dalvin Smith pulled in three of the touchdown receptions.
Old Dominion's season ends with a 6-7 record.
