The 2024 Boca Raton Bowl features the 8-5 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers against the 8-4 James Madison Dukes. Here is the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl Preview.
Western Kentucky won eight games this season to qualify for a bowl game. The Hilltoppers defeated three bowl-eligible teams this season: Toledo, Sam Houston State and Jacksonville State. Of their five losses, only one was to a team that didn’t qualify for a bowl game: Louisiana Tech.
The Hilltoppers score 25.5 points per game, ranking 88th in the country. They pass for 261.8 yards (ranked 32nd) and rush for 116.0 yards per game (ranked 109th).
Caden Veltkamp was the starting quarterback, while T.J. Finley backed him up, but both are in the transfer portal. Six receivers have at least 200 yards on the season for Western Kentucky. Their leading receiver is Kisean Johnson, who has 66 catches for 855 yards and seven touchdowns.
Elijah Young leads the team in rushing with 846 yards and three touchdowns. When he needs a break, George Hart has filled in with 200 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, the Hilltoppers allow 24.5 points per game, ranking 66th in the country. They give up 175.6 passing yards (ranked 11th) and 221.9 rushing yards per game (ranked 129th). Devonte’ Matthews has been the leading tackler with 90 on the season. Darius Thomas has been the best at getting after the quarterback with four sacks, but he is in the transfer portal. Anthony Johnson Jr. has made plays on the ball with six passes defended and two interceptions.
James Madison won eight games during the regular season to qualify for a bowl game. They have two wins over bowl-eligible teams: North Carolina and Coastal Carolina. Their only loss to a team that didn’t make a bowl game was to Louisiana-Monroe.
The Dukes score 33.8 points per game, ranking 24th in the country. They rush for 189.8 yards (ranked 30th) and pass for 218.9 yards per game (ranked 79th).
Alonza Barnett III has played quarterback for the Dukes this season. He has passed for 2,598 yards, 26 touchdowns and four interceptions on 60 percent completion. Five players have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Yamir Knight and Omarion Dollison have stood out with 567 and 551 yards respectively. Dollison paces the team with six touchdown catches.
George Pettaway leads the team with 880 rushing yards and also had five touchdowns on the ground. Barnett helped from the quarterback position with 442 rushing yards and seven scores. Wayne Knight and Jobi Malary have helped out with 427 and 257 rushing yards respectively.
On defense, the Dukes allow 20.8 points per game, ranking 27th in the country. They concede 123.7 (ranked 33rd) and 198.5 passing yards per game (ranked 37th). Jacob Thomas and Jacob Dobbs have been leaders in tackles with 70 and 69 respectively. Eric O’Neill has had a great season with 11.5 sacks. Terrence Spenc has shown off his ball skills with seven passes defended and five interceptions.
The opt-outs at quarterback will hurt the Hilltoppers on offense. James Madison can take advantage defensively and should be able to run the football well to win the game. It could be close, but the Dukes should win.
James Madison Dukes 31 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 26
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