NEW ORLEANS |  Western Kentucky's Austin Reed threw for a R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl record 497 yards to lead the Toppers to a 44-23 victory Wednesday evening at Caesars Superdome. Reed finished the night 36-of-53 with four touchdown passes, while three receivers – Dalvin Smith (6 – 145 – 1 TD), Jaylen Hall (9 – 138 – 1 TD) and Malachi Corley (11 – 114 – 2 TDs). 

The Jaguars end the season with a 10-3 record, while WKU finishes with a 9-5 record. 

Carter Bradley added another single-season mark to his resume establishing a new single-season mark for total yards of offense (3,393), while also setting a new record for career touchdown passes (28). Place kicker Diego Guajardo also set the single-season scoring record as he ends the fall with 100 total points, while running back La'Damian Webb became the program's all-time single-season rushing leader tallying 1,063 yards this season.

Devin Voisin hauled in a career-best 11 receptions for 132 yards receiving. D. Voisin, Webb and D.J Thomas-Jones each had a touchdown reception, marking the eighth game this season in which Bradley has thrown for three or more touchdowns in a game. 

Bradley also set a single-game record for completions as he was 36-for-53 for 360 yards. Bradley passed Jake Bentley's previous mark of 30 last fall at ULM (10/23/21). Braylon McReynolds finished with 145 yards of total offense in the loss, which were highlighted by 92 kick off yards.

CJ Thompson led the club with a career-best seven total stops, while Yam Banks had five tackles, an interception and a pass break up. Darrell Luter Jr. was credited with a pair of break ups as well.

Postgame Notes

• Captains: (5) Marvin Martin – S, (11) Jamie Sherriff – DL, (68) James Jackson – OL 
• Attendance: 13,456
• Start Time: 8:05 pm (CT) | Time of Game: 3:45
• Wednesday marked the third bowl appearance for the program and first since 2016 (Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl)
• The meeting was just the second series meeting between the two clubs with the only other coming in Mobile on Sept. 14, 2013
• The 74 combined pass completions by South Alabama and WKU tied for a Division I bowl-game record
• The 360 yards passing by Bradley was a South Alabama bowl game record, while D. Voisin also set new bowl standards for the Jags in receptions, while he was one yard shy of matching the program record for receiving yards
• Western Kentucky scored of four of its first five drives of the game with the only non-scoring drive ending after a missed field goal opportunity
• WKU's first six scoring drives were 2:01 or less
• Caullin Lacy extended his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 25, tying Shavarez Smith for fourth longest streak
• South Alabama recorded 123 yards on its final two drives of the first half after accumulating just 47 yards over its first four offensive possessions
• Banks' interception in the end zone with less than five minutes remaining in the second quarter set a new single-season record; it was his sixth of the season
• Jalen Wayne recorded a catch for his 28th consecutive game
• The 354 passing yards by WKU quarterback Austin Reed were the most allowed in the first half by the Jags this season 
• Reed's 497 yards passing were the most passing yards allowed to an opposing quarterback (451, by Tyler Rogers, New Mexico State, 12/2/17)
• The 677 total yards of offense were also a new single-game high by an opponent (617, Oklahoma State, 9/8/18)
• Guajardo recorded his 18th field goal of the season to move him into a tie for second-most in a season with Aleem Sunanon (2013)
• Guajardo also became the first player in program history to register 100 points in a season
• Webb (1,063) became South Alabama's single-season rushing leader passing Tra Minter's previous mark of 1,057 set during the 2019 season
• With his three touchdown passes, Bradley has already surpassed the career mark for touchdown passes as he has 28
• Bradley also set a new single-season standard for total yards of offense (3,393) passing Metheny's previous mark of 3,226 set during 2013
• The 300-yard passing game by Bradley tied him with Jake Bentley (2021) and Dallas Davis (2016) for most in a season as it was his third of the fall
• The 153 yards receiving by D. Voisin marked his third 100-yard receiving game this fall
• As a team, South Alabama's offense also set single-season marks in pass completions (310), passing yards (3,546), passing yards per game (272.8), first downs (300)
• D. Voisin ends the season with 64 receptions, tying Jalen Tolbert's 2020 mark for third most in a season, while Lacy ends the year with 65 to move him into second place
• The Jag trio of receivers – D. Voisin (4th – 871), Lacy (7th – 816) and Wayne (8th – 815) – became the first group to have three players finish with 800-yards receiving in the same season

How It Happened
First Quarter

• 0-7 (13:11) – WKU – Reed 44-yard touchdown pass to Smith (6 plays, 75 yards, 1:43)
• 0-14 (8:46) – WKU – Reed 27-yard touchdown pass to Joey Beljan (5 plays, 80 yards, 1:36)

Second Quarter

• 0-21 (13:44) – WKU – D. Smith 25-yard pass to Jaylen Hall (3 plays, 56 yards, 00:32)
• 0-24 (9:23) – WKU – Cory Munson 23-yard field goal (7 plays, 60 yards, 2:01)
• 3-24 (1:38) – USA – Guajardo 30-yard field goal (9 plays, 68 yards, 3:07)
• 3- 31 (00:00) – WKU – Reed 1-yard touchdown pass to Corley (10 plays, 75 yards, 1:38)

Third Quarter

• 10-31 (12:57) – USA – Bradley 10-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Thomas-Jones (7 plays, 75 yards, 2:03)
• 10-38 (11:19) – WKU – Reed 39-yard touchdown pass to Corley (6 plays, 74 yards, 1:32)
• 10-41 (5:05) – WKU – Munson 31-yard field goal (9 plays, 51 yards, 3:16)
• 17-41 (3:12) – USA – Bradley 5-yard touchdown pass to Webb (5 plays, 66 yards, 1:46)

Fourth Quarter

• 17-44 (9:24) – WKU – Munson 31-yard field goal (14 plays, 57 yards, 5:36)
• 23-44 (6:01) – USA – Bradley 12-yard touchdown pass to D. Voisin (9 plays, 84 yards, 3:15)

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