CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – WKU Football lost 21-20 in a close contest against Boston College on Saturday at Alumni Stadium.
The Hilltoppers (3-2 overall, 1-0 Conference USA) led the Eagles (4-1 overall, 1-0 ACC) for much of the game, before eventually falling to the power conference team on the road in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- WKU got on the board first with a 3-yard touchdown reception by Kisean Johnson on a pass from Caden Veltkamp with 3:05 to play in the first quarter.
- The Hilltoppers made it a 14-0 lead with a 7-yard touchdown reception by Easton Messer on a pass from Veltkamp 2:59 into the second quarter.
- Boston College got on the board with 2:08 remaining in the first half with a 3-yard touchdown run, making it 14-7.
- Lucas Carneiro made a 22-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give WKU a 17-7 lead at the break.
- Carneiro added a 35-yard field goal with 8:44 remaining in the third quarter to give WKU a 20-7 lead. The Hilltoppers got the ball back for the scoring drive on a forced fumble by Kent Robinson that was recovered by Devonte' Mathews.
- Boston College scored on a 1-yard rush with 11:36 to play to make it a 20-14 game. The drive was set up by an interception off of a deflected pass.
- The Eagles took the lead with 3:33 remaining on an 8-yard touchdown pass after a strip sack gave them the ball back.
NOTABLES
- Captains for the game were linebacker Sebastian Benjamin, receiver K.D. Hutchinson and long snapper Rex Robich.
- Caden Veltkamp threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-39 passing. He also rushed for 16 yards on nine attempts.
- Elijah Young led WKU in all-purpose yards with 107. He tallied 85 yards on 21 rushing attempts and added 22 yards on five receptions.
- Kisean Johnson led WKU with seven receptions. He totaled 56 yards and one touchdown, and now has at least one touchdown reception in each of the last three games. He had two at Middle Tennessee and one against Toledo before again finding the end zone Saturday.
- River Helms led WKU in receiving yards against the Eagles, posting 72 yards on four receptions.
- Five WKU players posted at least three receptions.
- Darius Thomas led WKU with eight tackles. Seventeen Hilltoppers recorded multiple tackles in the game.
- WKU had three tackles for loss and two sacks in the game. Terrion Thompson and Deante McCray were credited with the sacks.
- WKU's defense had two turnovers gained against Boston College – a Keondre Williams interception and a fumble forced by Kent Robinson that was recovered by Devonte' Mathews. The Hilltoppers had four against Toledo in the previous game and now have nine.
QUOTABLES
- "Tough one. Hats off to Boston College. They found a way to win. Proud of our guys. They kept battling and they made plays. We needed to find a way to win there at the end, but we didn't get it done. But we'll bounce back. We'll get back home and get ready for conference play. Our guys fought hard." – WKU Football Head Coach Tyson Helton, on the 21-20 loss at Boston College.
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"I thought defensively we could keep them in check – I really did – and we did. We needed to go make some plays offensively in the second half. Come out on the first drive and kick the field goal. We just didn't finish the drives. We kicked two field goals. Then we went into the fourth quarter and needed to go put the ball in the end zone and we didn't get it done. Defensively, guys battled hard. It's our job offensively to go get those points for them." – WKU Football Head Coach Tyson Helton, on moving the ball early in the game and holding Boston College's offense in check.
NEXT UP
- The Hilltoppers will be off until Thursday, Oct. 10, when they face UTEP at 7 p.m. CT at Houchens-Smith Stadium. WKU will encourage fans to wear red for the Red Out Game to kick off 2024 weekday CUSA action.
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