Veltkamp pours in 3 TDS, leads FAU over Rice 27-21

HOUSTON -- , Caden Veltkamp threw three touchdown passes and Michael Kirch hauled in two scores as Florida Atlantic held off Rice 27-21 on Saturday. Veltkamp completed 23-of-33 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, while Kirch caught four passes for 82 yards to lead FAU (2-3, 1-1 American). Asaad Waseem added 89 yards and a 38-yard touchdown reception. Rice (3-3, 1-2) struck first when Quinton Jackson broke free for a 68-yard touchdown run, but FAU answered quickly. Veltkamp found Kirch for a 30-yard score, then connected with Waseem on a deep strike to put FAU up 14-7 in the first quarter. Garrison Smith added a 36-yard field goal before halftime to extend the lead to 17-7. After Rice’s Chase Jenkins hit Drayden Dickmann for a 46-yard touchdown to close within three, Veltkamp capped another long drive with a 2-yard scoring pass to Kirch late in the third quarter.