BOCA RATON (Interstat) — Caden Veltkamp threw four touchdown passes and Florida Atlantic used a balanced offense and timely defensive stops to beat Texas-San Antonio 60-29 on Thursday in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at FAU Stadium. The Owls improved to 6-3, while the Roadrunners fell to 7-2. Attendance was 19,115. Texas-San Antonio entered on a five-game winning streak, including a 42-19 victory at Tulane in its most recent game. Florida Atlantic had lost 48-41 at North Texas in its previous game after beating Rice 51-49.

The game was competitive early before Florida Atlantic created separation with touchdowns on both sides of halftime. Veltkamp, the Owls’ top star, completed 17 of 25 passes for 210 yards and four touchdowns and ran seven times for 26 yards. He had entered the game after throwing for 452 yards and five touchdowns in a loss to North Texas and 339 yards with three passing touchdowns and a rushing score in a win over Rice. Against the Roadrunners, Veltkamp found Easton Messer for scoring passes of 6 and 15 yards, hit Leonard Farrow for an 18-yard touchdown and later connected with Messer again for a 6-yard score. Messer also threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to AJ Johnson, and Johnson added two short rushing touchdowns as the Owls kept pressure on the Roadrunners throughout the second half. The Owls’ offense produced four touchdown passes from Veltkamp and a trick-play score from Messer. Florida Atlantic also converted a two-point pass from Veltkamp to Kelby Valsin after one third-quarter touchdown.

Texas-San Antonio had answers at times behind Owen McCown, who completed 20 of 35 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns and ran nine times for 8 yards. McCown, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound quarterback from Rusk, Texas, threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Mekhi Anderson, who finished with six catches for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and connected with Isaiah Butler-Tanner for a 26-yard touchdown. A’Marion Peterson provided a big-play spark with six carries for 77 yards and a 52-yard touchdown run. McCown spread the ball to several targets, and the Roadrunners used a quick-strike run from Peterson to stay in the game. Will Henderson III added 11 carries for 18 yards and four catches for 24 yards, while DJ Allen Jr. caught four passes for 48 yards. Brandon Young Jr. had one catch for 23 yards, David Amador II had two receptions for 18 yards and a 4-yard punt return, and James Madison II added a 5-yard catch. Brandon Tennison completed one of two passes for 7 yards and ran three times for 2 yards, and Mark Wiepert had one carry for 1 yard and a 2-yard punt return. Frankie Arthur Jr. ran twice for 3 yards, Brandon High Jr. ran four times for 20 yards, and Anderson added a 24-yard run and an 11-yard kick return.

The Owls’ defense made the difference after Texas-San Antonio stayed within range early. Jonathan Bax recorded four tackles and 2.5 sacks, Khmari Johnson had four tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry, and Leon Hart Jr. made eight tackles with a half-sack. Joseph Sipp Jr. and Tyson Rooks each finished with six tackles, while Amar Reynolds and Deshaun Batiste had four tackles apiece. Damon Allen added three tackles and a quarterback hurry, and Derrick Rogers and Earl Miller Jr. each made three tackles. Florida Atlantic’s defensive front created pressure throughout, with Bax and Johnson leading the way in the backfield. Kelby Valsin led the Owls’ receivers with six catches for 77 yards.

Texas-San Antonio got production from Darion White, who made nine tackles, and Elijah Newell, who had seven. Eze Osondu and Joel Rogers each recorded five stops, while Jeremiah Bailey had five tackles and a quarterback hurry. Jameian Buxton added four tackles, and Ahamad Chapman and Cameron Upshaw Jr. each made four stops. RJ Lester Jr. also had four tackles, and Nate Robinson Jr., Bryce Grays and Willie Nelson III each made three. James Walley Jr. added three tackles, while Eddy Smith recorded a sack and Jusiah Sampleton had a quarterback hurry. Tai Leonard had two tackles and a quarterback hurry, and Drenon Fite III, Dylan Spencer, Owen Pewee and Braeden Lott each finished with two tackles. Xavier Walton, Asaad Chapman and Camron Cooper each had one tackle. Caile Hogan punted seven times for 292 yards. The Roadrunners’ tackling effort was led by White and Newell, but Texas-San Antonio could not get enough stops in the second half.

The most important stretch came as Florida Atlantic turned a back-and-forth game into a decisive advantage. Veltkamp’s touchdown passes and Johnson’s short scoring runs helped the Owls pull away, and Farrow’s 59-yard touchdown run in the third quarter further tilted the game. Texas-San Antonio’s best response came through McCown’s touchdown pass to Butler-Tanner in the third quarter, but the Roadrunners could not keep pace. In the fourth quarter, Collin Rogers had a 28-yard field goal attempt blocked by Asaad Chapman, and Florida Atlantic later added a 37-yard field goal by A. Grace. The Owls’ ability to finish drives with touchdowns, rather than field goals, proved central to the outcome. The Owls’ defense then made the lead stand over the final quarter. Florida Atlantic finished with 60 points, while Texas-San Antonio closed with 29.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Texas-San Antonio 58, Florida Atlantic 49. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Texas-San Antonio with an 83.1 percent probability to win. Texas-San Antonio had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -6.5. The total score of 89 went under the over/under line of 72.5.