James Madison Dukes defensive lineman Eric O’Neill picked up a key sack in a win towards the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Wednesday night time 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 school soccer followers on social media seen.
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James Madison defensive lineman Eric O’Neill, #99, reacts after making a play towards Western Kentucky operating again Elijah Younger throughout the first half of the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA school 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 probably the best moment of my life,” he informed ESPN after the win. “We got a bunch of (Football Bowl Championship) guys nobody wanted out of high school. Now, finished the season 9-4, winning bowl games at JMU. You can’t even dream of this.”
He was requested in regards to the celebrations after the sport as nicely.
“It was just working hard, getting there and the celebration, I’m a big UFC fan so it was one of those,” he mentioned, through The Breeze. “I don’t blame them if they … if I’m an offensive lineman and someone did that to my quarterback, I’d probably want 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, heart, reacts as James Madison head coach Bob Chesney, entrance, heart, holds the Howard Schnellenberger trophy after defeating Western Kentucky within the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA school soccer sport on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 in Boca Raton, Florida. (AP Picture/Lynne Sladky)
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, throughout the second half of the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA school 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 whole tackles. He additionally returned an interception for a landing.
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