SLIDE SHOW: Tops head to CUSA title game after win against Jax State
Published 5:45 am Sunday, December 1, 2024
Western Kentucky redshirt junior offensive lineman Marshall Jackson (53) celebrates as the Hilltoppers win 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks on a 50-yard field goal by redshirt sophomore kicker Lucas Carneiro (17) at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky senior running back Elijah Young (3) leaps over Jacksonville State redshirt freshman safety Zechariah Poyser (18) and graduate safety Antonio Carter (8) as he runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt freshman tight end Noah Meyers (81) catches the ball between Jacksonville State sophomore safety Travis Franklin Jr. (20) and sophomore center back Geimere Latimer (1) in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt freshman tight end Noah Meyers (81) catches the ball between Jacksonville State graduate safety Antonio Carter (8) and junior safety Fred Perry (6) in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt freshman tight end Noah Meyers (81) celebrates catching the ball for a first down while covered by Jacksonville State graduate safety Antonio Carter (8) and junior safety Fred Perry (6) in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) passes the ball to senior running back Elijah Young (3) in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore wide receiver Easton Messer (8) is tackled by Jacksonville State redshirt junior center back Derek Carter (13) as he runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky senior wide receiver Kisean Johnson (0) runs the ball as Jacksonville State senior center back Marco Baker (2) and senior linebacker Ky’won McCray (11) defend in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky senior running back Elijah Young (3) runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky senior running back Elijah Young (3) runs the ball past Jacksonville State sophomore center back Geimere Latimer (1) for a touchdown in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky senior running back Elijah Young (3) celebrates scoring a touchdown with his teammates in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore wide receiver K.D. Hutchinson (15) catches a punted ball beside Jacksonville State redshirt sophomore linebacker Jaleel Birdsong (48) in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) passes the ball to redshirt freshman tight end Noah Meyers (81) in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky senior wide receiver Kisean Johnson (0) runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky senior running back Elijah Young (3) is tackled as he runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt freshman tight end Noah Meyers (81) runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky junior running back L.T. Sanders (7) runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore quarterback Caden Veltkamp (10) looks to pass the ball as Jacksonville State redshirt sophomore linebacker Jibreel Al-Amin (15) advances on him in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt junior running back George Hart III (9) runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore wide receiver Easton Messer (8) runs the ball in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore wide receiver Easton Messer (8) catches the ball beside Jacksonville State sophomore safety Travis Franklin Jr. (20) in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt senior wide receiver Dalvin Smith (17) tries to catch a touchdown pass as Jacksonville State redshirt junior center back Fred Davis (10) blocks him in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Marcus Patterson (92) and redshirt juinor defensive lineman Dallas Walker (35) try to push in to sack Jacksonville State senior quarterback Tyler Huff (6) in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
Western Kentucky redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Deante McCray (8) celebrates stopping Jacksonville State redshirt sophomore running back Andrew Paul (0) on a third down in the Hilltoppers’ 19-17 win over the Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS
The Hilltoppers won 19-17 over the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Houchens-Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. WKU is back in the CUSA championship game for the first time since 2021 and will play at Jacksonville State on Friday at 6 p.m. CT.
About Grace McDowell
Photojournalist for the Bowling Green Daily News since 2019. Any news or sports tips? Send them my way at grace.mcdowell@bgdailynews.com!
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