NEW ORLEANS — Old Dominion jumped out to a 28-0 advantage in the Famous Toastery Bowl but could not hold on, falling to Western Kentucky, 38-35 in overtime.   
 
The Monarchs, who were one of an FBS-leading 12 Sun Belt football programs to participate in Bowl Season, fell to 1-2 in three all-time bowl appearances. 
 
A 79-yard rush by junior quarterback Grant Wilson set up his one-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Isiah Paige for the first Old Dominion score just 2:01 into the contest. 
 
The Monarch defense then forced turnovers on the first three Western Kentucky possessions—via a fumble recovery by junior cornerback LaMareon James, a pick-six for junior defensive end Kris Caine and a fumble recovery by senior defensive tackle Jahlil Taylor—which led to 21 Old Dominion points to open up the 28-0 advantage just 1:22 into the second quarter. 
 
Two highlight-reel, one-handed touchdown snares by Hilltopper redshirt junior wide receiver Dalvin Smith narrowed the Monarch lead to 28-14 at the 10:24 mark in the third quarter. Wilson responded, leading Old Dominion on a nine-play, 72-yard scoring drive—which he capped with his second rushing touchdown of the day from 21 yards out—to make it 35-14 before the close of the quarter. 
 
The fourth quarter was all Hilltoppers, as junior running back Elijah Young hurdled an Old Dominion defender on a 37-yard touchdown reception, Smith added his third touchdown catch of the day and redshirt freshman quarterback Caden Veltkamp found redshirt freshman wide receiver K.D. Hutchinson for the game-tying score with 19 seconds to play on 4th and goal from the Monarch 15-yard line. 
 
In overtime, a 23-yard field goal attempt by Old Dominion sophomore kicker Ethan Sanchez was blocked and Western Kentucky converted a 29-yarder on the ensuing possession to secure the victory. 
 
Wilson rushed for a game-high 126 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing for 123 yards and another score. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Wayne Matthews III led the way for the Monarch defense with 14 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, a pass breakup and a forced fumble—which led to 1-of-5 Old Dominion takeaways on the day. 

With the loss, Old Dominion falls to 6-7 on the year.