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James Madison Dukes Defensive lineman Eric O’Neill picked up a key sack in a win against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Wednesday night in the Boca Raton Bowl.
O’Neill then celebrated the sack by emptying his quiver The Hilltoppers quarterback Caden Veltkamp. It wasn’t the only time he did the celebration either, and college football fans on social media took notice.
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James Madison defensive lineman Eric O’Neill, #99, reacts after making a play against Western Kentucky running back Elijah Young during the first half of the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA college football game on Wednesday, Feb. December 2024 in Boca Raton, Florida. . (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
O’Neill had three tackles, including a sack, as James Madison won the game 27-17.
“It’s surreal. It’s probably the best moment of my life,” he told ESPN after the win. “We got a bunch of (Football Bowl Championship) guys that nobody wanted coming out of high school. Now, we’ve finished the season 9-4, winning bowl games at JMU. You can’t even dream of that.”
He was also asked about the post-match celebrations.
“It was working hard, getting there and celebrating, I’m a huge UFC fan, so it was one of those,” he said via The Breeze. “I don’t blame them if … if I’m an offensive lineman and somebody did that to my quarterback, I’d probably want to shove them.”
It was the Dukes’ first win as a Football Bowl Subdivision team. They moved from the FCS before the 2022 season. Curt Cignetti, who is now the coach at Indiana, was the head coach at James Madison during its first two years at college football’s highest level.
James Madison punter Ryan Hanson, back, center, reacts as James Madison head coach Bob Chesney, front, center, holds the Howard Schnellenberger Trophy after defeating Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl NCAA college football game on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 in Boca Raton, Florida. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Bob Chesney took over after Cignetti left the team for the Hoosiers and led the team to a bowl victory.
O’Neill, a redshirt junior from New York, transferred from Long Island University before the start of the 2024 season. He played in his first bowl game with a bunch of other teammates.
Western Kentucky quarterback Caden Veltkamp, #10, looks to pass as he is pressured by James Madison cornerback KJ Flowe, #14, and defensive lineman Immanuel Bush, #15, during the second half of the football game University of Boca Raton Bowl NCAA Wednesday. , December 18, 2024 in Boca Raton, Florida. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
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He finished his first season at James Madison as a first teamer All-Sun Belt Conference defensive lineman He had 13 tackles and 52 total tackles. He also returned an interception for a touchdown.
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