BOCA RATON, Fla. — In an impressive display, backup quarterback Billy Atkins threw for 181 yards and secured a touchdown during his first start since 2022, guiding James Madison University (JMU) to a historic 27-17 victory over Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl. This win marks JMU’s inaugural bowl victory in its program history.

With starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III sidelined due to an injury sustained against Marshall on November 30, the Dukes turned to Atkins, who had previously only attempted three passes in the last two years.

In a crucial fourth-quarter moment, Atkins demonstrated his skill by completing 4 out of 5 passes on a drive that culminated in a 21-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Thompson, which allowed JMU to take a 24-17 lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the game.

Following a series of unsuccessful drives from both teams, JMU’s Khairi Manns made a critical play by recovering his own strip sack, effectively halting a Western Kentucky drive with just over three minutes left on the clock. This set up a subsequent drive for JMU, which ended in a short field goal extending their lead to 10 points.

This particular game marked the fifth occasion this season that JMU managed to record three or more turnovers, highlighting the team’s defensive prowess. Running back George Pettaway contributed significantly to the offense with 100 rushing yards.

On the opposing side, Western Kentucky’s quarterback, Caden Veltkamp, threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns, with Dalvin Smith being the standout receiver, amassing 76 yards which included an 11-yard touchdown and a remarkable 65-yard catch-and-run.

A pivotal drive for JMU commenced in the second half when wildcat quarterback JC Evans orchestrated an 11-play, 71-yard movement that concluded in a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kyi Wright, leveling the score at 14-14. Evans, faking a sneak, found Wright, who is typically a blocking tight end, unmarked in the end zone for his first reception of the season. Prior to this, Atkins had set the stage with a 33-yard pass to Omarion Dollison, placing JMU in striking range.

Western Kentucky faced a significant setback on their next possession, as Smith mishandled a backward pass, allowing JMU linebacker Gannon Weathersby to secure the recovery with 6:45 left in the third quarter. The Dukes capitalized on these turnovers as they pushed towards their historic bowl victory.