BOCA RATON, Fla. – Backup Billy Atkins threw for 181 yards and a touchdown in his first start since 2022, leading James Madison to the program’s first bowl victory after defeating Western Kentucky 27-17 in the Boca Raton Bowl on Wednesday night.

JMU was without starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who suffered an injury Nov. 30 against Marshall, and the Dukes turned to Atkins, who has had just three pass attempts in the past two years.

Atkins scored a 4-5 drive in the fourth quarter, ending with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Thompson for a 24-17 lead with 9:20 left.

After both teams made three-pointers, Khairy Manns ended a Western Kentucky drive with 3:02 left when he recovered his own strip sack and marched JMU down the field with a short field goal, giving it a 10-point lead.

It was the fifth game this season in which JMU had three or more takeaways in a game.

George Pettaway finished the game with a 100-yard run for James Madison (9-4).

Caden Veltkamp led Western Kentucky (8-6) with 302 passing yards and two touchdowns. Dalvin Smith had 76 yards receiving, including an 11-yard touchdown and a 65-yard catch-and-run.

KEY DRIVE

JMU’s Wildcat quarterback JC Evans started the second half and led JMU with an 11-play, 71-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Kyi Wright to make the score 14-1. Evans faked a push up the middle and found Wright, who normally blocks a tight end, wide open in the end zone for his first catch of the season. Atkins helped JMU get into scoring position with a 33-yard connection to Omarion Dollison.

Western Kentucky turned the game around on its next possession when Smith bobbled a return pass and JMU linebacker Gannon Weathersby recovered it with 6:45 left in the third.

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