James Madison Dukes defensive lineman Eric O’Neill picked up a key sack in a win in opposition to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Wednesday evening within the Boca Raton Bowl.
O’Neill then celebrated the sack by emptying the quiver on Hilltoppers quarterback Caden Veltkamp. It was not the one time he carried out the celebration both, and faculty soccer followers on social media seen.
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James Madison defensive lineman Eric O’Neill, #99, reacts after making a play in opposition to Western Kentucky operating again Elijah Younger in the course of the first half of the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA faculty soccer sport on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Boca Raton, Florida. (AP Picture/Lynne Sladky)
O’Neill had three tackles, together with one sack, as James Madison gained the sport 27-17.
“It’s surreal. It’s in all probability one of the best second of my life,” he advised ESPN after the win. “We received a bunch of (Soccer Bowl Championship) guys no one needed out of highschool. Now, completed the season 9-4, profitable bowl video games at JMU. You may’t even dream of this.”
He was requested in regards to the celebrations after the sport as properly.
“It was simply working laborious, getting there and the celebration, I’m a giant UFC fan so it was a type of,” he stated, through The Breeze. “I don’t blame them in the event that they … if I’m an offensive lineman and somebody did that to my quarterback, I’d in all probability need to push them.”
It was the Dukes’ first bowl win as a Soccer Bowl Subdivision staff. They moved up from the FCS previous to the 2022 season. Curt Cignetti, who’s now the coach at Indiana, was James Madison’s head coach for his or her first two years on the highest degree of school soccer.
James Madison punter Ryan Hanson, rear, middle, reacts as James Madison head coach Bob Chesney, entrance, middle, holds the Howard Schnellenberger trophy after defeating Western Kentucky within the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA faculty soccer sport on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Boca Raton, Florida. (AP Picture/Lynne Sladky)
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Bob Chesney took over after Cignetti left the staff for the Hoosiers and guided the staff to the bowl win.
O’Neill, a redshirt-junior from New York, transferred from Lengthy Island College earlier than the beginning of the 2024 season. He performed in his first bowl sport with a bunch of different teammates.
Western Kentucky quarterback Caden Veltkamp, #10, appears to be like to go as he’s pressured by James Madison cornerback KJ Flowe, #14, and defensive lineman Immanuel Bush, #15, in the course of the second half of the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA faculty soccer sport on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Boca Raton, Florida. (AP Picture/Lynne Sladky)
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He wrapped up his first season at James Madison as a First Group All-Solar Belt Convention defensive lineman. He had 13 tackles and 52 complete tackles. He additionally returned an interception for a landing.
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