MOBILE, Ala. — Freshman Gio Lopez threw three touchdowns and ran for another and South Alabama beat Eastern Michigan 59-10 in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Saturday night.
Playing on their home field at Hancock Whitney Stadium, the Jaguars (7-6) scored on their first three possessions, led 38-3 at halftime and outgained Eastern Michigan (6-7) 627 yards to 150. It was the first bowl win for South Alabama, which joined the FBS in 2012 and had previously lost three bowl games.
“A lot of work goes into a moment like this,” South Alabama coach Kane Wommack said. “It goes far beyond our players this season. … We've had a great past, great moments in our present and certainly our best days are ahead of us and that's really exciting. This is a great moment to build on and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Lopez split time with Desmond Trotter, who started in place of Carter Bailey and was sidelined with a knee injury. Lopez completed 14 of 19 passes for 192 yards and touchdowns of 5 and 42 yards to Jamaal Pritchett and 20 yards to DJ Thomas-Jones and ran for a score of 27 yards. He led the team with 88 yards rushing and was named the game's MVP.
Trotter threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Thomas-Jones and ran for a 3-yard TD. Pritchett caught eight passes for 127 yards while replacing All-Sun Belt receiver Caullin Lacy, who transferred to Louisville.
Two-time 1,000-yard rusher La'Damian Webb (turf toe) also missed the game for South Alabama. Sophomore Braylon McReynolds started and totaled 111 scrimmage yards (71 rushing).
South Alabama posted its highest point total in program history against an FBS opponent. The Jaguars scored 55 points against both Louisiana-Monroe and Southern Miss earlier this season.
South Alabama's defense held Eastern Michigan to 6:20 on third and fourth downs and did not allow the Eagles to exceed 100 total yards until the final six minutes. EMU also played without its starting quarterback after Austin Smith entered the transfer portal.
Ike Udengwu started at quarterback for the Eagles, but freshman Cam'Ron McCoy played most of the game. McCoy completed 12 of 27 passes for 73 yards with two interceptions and rushed for 73 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown with 58 seconds left.
“Congratulations to South Alabama, they were truly the better team in every way tonight,” Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton said. “This was supposed to be a battle that started with running the ball and defending the run. We knew they would give everything and play a lot. They are 6-0 when they have overtaken their opponent and 0-6 when they have not. I think they took us both ways on that.”
AWAY FROM HOME TO HOME
South Alabama was the visiting team, although it played on its home field. The Jaguars wore white jerseys and used the visitors' sideline and locker room. Their fans sat on the away side.
Being the home team didn't help for the green-clad Eagles, who suffered their second major loss in three years in Mobile. Eastern Michigan lost 56-20 to Liberty in the same bowl game two years ago when it was sponsored by LendingTree.
THE TAKING AWAY
South Alabama: The Jaguars finished with a winning record for the second straight season, a first for the school in its FBS era.
Eastern Michigan: The Eagles were uncompetitive, finishing with a losing record for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when they went 2-4.
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AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football