MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama Football secured its first bowl championship in program history Saturday night when it dismantled Eastern Michigan, 59-10, in the 68 Ventures Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
With the win, South Alabama finished the season with an overall record of 7-6. It marked the first time in program history the Jaguars recorded back-to-back winning seasons as a full Division I participant.
"A lot of work goes into a moment like this," said head coach
Kane Wommack. "It goes way beyond just our players this season. There were young men who came here over a decade ago to build something special. They ran hills on what is now Hancock Whitney Stadium. They came here with nothing, knowing that they were going to build a foundation for us to walk upon. At some point, you have a group of young men who take ownership and actualize those dreams, and that's what exactly these guys up here with me and those guys celebrating in the locker room have done."
The Jags were dominant in all three phases of the game from start to finish. USA put up 627 yards of total offense while holding EMU to just 150 on the night. That total included a 417-27 advantage in the first half alone. The Jaguar defense also forced two turnovers while the punt unit collected another, and the offense scored on six of its first-eight drives. South's 59 points were the most in the program's Division I history.
True freshman quarterback
Gio Lopez was named 68 Ventures Bowl MVP at the conclusion of the game after throwing for 192 yards and three touchdowns, then rushing for an additional 88 yards and a score. He rotated snaps with fellow quarterback
Desmond Trotter, who started the game and completed nine passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Trotter also punched in a rushing touchdown of his own.
Jamaal Pritchett won the bowl game's Offensive MVP award on eight catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow pass catcher
DJ Thomas-Jones also hauled in two receiving touchdowns on the night, giving him five total touchdowns in the final-two games of the season. USA's other touchdowns happened on the ground courtesy of
Kentrel Bullock and
PJ Martin, who scored his first touchdown in a South Alabama uniform. Special Teams MVP
Diego Guajardo gave the Jags their first points of the night by nailing a 46-yard field goal.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars were led by Defensive MVP
Jamie Sheriff, who tallied four tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries.
Jaden Voisin was the team's leading tackler with five. The defensive backfield put on an impressive display for South Alabama, limiting the Eagles to just 73 yards through the air while breaking up four passes and intercepting two.
Marquise Robinson picked off one pass in addition to three pass breakups, and
Jalen Jordan picked off the other.
The 68 Ventures Bowl Championship marks the conclusion of the 2023 season for South Alabama.
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