FAU, Veltkamp (386 yards, 5 TD) light up Navy, 38-30

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Florida Atlantic produced the nation’s No. 1 passing offense during the 2025 season.

By retaining head coach Zach Kittley, quarterback Caden Veltkamp, and wide receiver Easton Messer, the Owls fully believed their passing attack could produce a dangerous product in 2026. That vision finally came to fruition on Saturday night in Boca Raton.

Florida Atlantic spent most of the night handling a Navy team that won 22 of its last 27 games. The Midshipmen ended the contest with 23 unanswered points, but it wasn’t enough to undo the damage caused by Velktamp and the Owls. Florida Atlantic left with a statement 38-30 victory in the most significant win of the Kittley era.

Veltkamp threw for 386 yards and five touchdowns in the victory. And it was just another day for the fifth-year senior who posted his third 380+ yard 5-touchdown performance of his college career. One receiver who witnessed all those performances was Veltkamp’s roommate Easton Messer.

On the second play of the game, Veltkamp showed off his howitzer of an arm. His throw traveled approximately 49 yards through the air before landing in the gloves of Messer, who beat two Navy defenders on a go route. The touchdown went for 76 yards, providing FAU a 7-0 lead less than a minute into its home opener. Two drives later, it was déjà vu. Veltkamp launched another deep ball down the seam to Messer, who leaked behind the Navy defense for a 36-yard touchdown.

Messer finished a spectacular two-touchdown outing with eight receptions for 179 yards. He wasn’t the only receiver who delivered in Kittley’s air raid offense. Texas Tech transfer Kelby Valsin added a career-high 115 yards and a touchdown on eight catches, while Dominique Henry produced 63 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Florida Atlantic’s passing offense had no problem moving the ball last year, but one significant change led to a victory against Navy on Saturday. Last season, the Owls recorded the worst turnover margin in the FBS at minus-21, when no other team finished worse than minus-13. But on Saturday, FAU flipped the narrative and defeated Navy 2-0 in the turnover battle, although it only produced three points from the takeaways.

The Owls built their lead as large as 38-7 in the late third quarter when Veltkamp delivered his fifth and final touchdown to tight end AJ Johnson.

Down 31, Navy started placing air under the ball, and the Midshipmen’s desperation offense was fruitful. On his second passing attempt of the night, backup quarterback Jackson Gutierrez found an open Jordan Collins downfield for a 64-yard touchdown. Gutierrez maintained his rhythm, completing a second touchdown pass and subsequently running 49 yards for a touchdown. He led a 23-0 Navy run, which sliced the Midshipmen’s deficit to 38-30.

However, Gutierrez never received the ball down one score. Florida Atlantic converted a game-deciding 4th and 1 with under two minutes remaining, denying the Midshipmen of a potential 31-point comeback in Boca Raton.

Navy (1-1, 0-1 American) started 6-0 in each of the past two seasons, but the Midshipmen took the first blotch on their résumé in September this year. Brian Newberry and Co. aim to regroup Friday, Sept. 25 in another road conference game — this time, at UAB.

Florida Atlantic (1-1, 1-0 American) is 1-0 in conference play for the first time since 2023. The Owls remain in the Sunshine State for the third-straight week, where they look to avenge FIU in the upcoming Shula Bowl on Sept. 19.

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