BOWLING GREEN — The Western Kentucky football team is, in a word, rolling — and Hilltopper fans will enjoy a happy Halloween because of it.
Caden Veltkamp tossed two touchdown passes and George Hart ran for another score in a 21-point first quarter, and the Hilltoppers went on to defeat visiting Kennesaw State 31-14 in a Conference USA football game Wednesday night before 14,547 fans at Houchens/Smith Stadium.
Surging WKU improved to 6-2 overall and a front-running 4-0 in CUSA in posting its third consecutive victory. Kennesaw State, which pulled off a major upset over Liberty last week, fell to 1-7 in all games and 1-3 within the league.
In addition, WKU became FBS bowl-eligible for the sixth straight season under head coach Tyson Helton, and for the 10th time in the last 11 seasons.
“We did a lot of good things tonight and I’m really happy for our football team,” Helton said. “Kennesaw came in here after upsetting Liberty and we needed to have a pro mentality and have our jaws set for this one, and that’s exactly what we got from our football team — I’m very proud of the way we responded to this challenge.
“Our running game was working so well that it opened up the passing game for Caden very early on, allowing us to gain the early lead and momentum — we’re really finding our groove, offensively, and the balance we’ve developed is making us much more difficult to defend.”
The Hilltoppers started fast, marching 79 yards in eight plays on the game’s first possession, with backup tight end Trevor Borland hauling in a 5-yard scoring pass from Veltkamp to put WKU up 7-0 at 11:54.
Midway through the opening period, the Owls pulled even when running back Michael Benefield bolted 37 yards untouched on his way to paydirt.
Western answered immediately, driving 75 yards in only five plays to reclaim the lead. Easton Messer caught a 64-yard TD aerial from Veltkamp to make it 14-7 at 3:16 of the second quarter.
“I just tried to pick ‘em up and put ‘em down as fast as I could,” Messer said of the play. “I was determined not to get caught from behind.”
After a three-and-out by the Owls, the Hilltoppers added to their lead by driving 78 yards on only five plays. A 25-yard pass from Veltkamp to K.D. Hutchinson set up a 30-yard touchdown sprint by Hart on the final play of the period to push WKU in front, 21-7.
Midway through the quarter, Western began a time-consuming 11-play drive that culminated with Lucas Carneiro’s 32-yard field goal at 3:36 — stretching the lead to 24-7.
After a scoreless third period, another reserve tight end, Noah Meyers, capped an 80-yard march when he caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Veltkamp early in the fourth quarter to make it 31-7.
Kennesaw State got on the board late in the fourth on a 20-yard touchdown dash by quarterback Davis Bryson that accounted for the final margin.
Veltkamp, a red-shirt sophomore, continued to play well for WKU, completing 17 of 22 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions.
The Hilltoppers also got a huge boost from running back Elijah Young, who rambled for a career-high 114 yards on only 15 carries.
Nine WKU players caught passes from Veltkamp, led by Kisean Johnson’s four receptions for 64 yards.
Western’s defensive unit, which has allowed only 15 points per game over its last seven contests, was led by linebacker Chandler Matthews’ nine tackles.
“I’m just glad we won the game — they’re all big at this point,” Matthews said. “We run, we hit, we tackle on the defensive side of the ball. We get after it — that’s what we’re all about.”
And, for the first time in 57 games, WKU did not commit a single penalty.
“It’s really hard to go through an entire game without a penalty,” Helton said. “Kudos to our guys — it speaks to the culture and discipline we have in this program.”
Benefield paced the Owls with 98 yards on 16 carries and a TD.
The Hilltoppers return to action on Nov. 9 with a visit to New Mexico State.
