SALUTE TO VETERANS BOWL: South Alabama sets records in win over Western Michigan

South Alabama earned the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl trophy with the win over Western Michigan on Saturday. (Ryan Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

South Alabama used big plays in the passing game to take a halftime lead and then kept the ball on the ground in the second half for a 30-23 win over Western Michigan in the 11th annual IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl at the historic Cramton Bowl.

Redshirt senior Jeremiah Webb caught six passes for an IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl record 182 yards and two touchdowns in the first half to give the Jaguars a 16-13 halftime lead. Webb caught a 52-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 10-10, and then put the Jags ahead to stay with a 42-yard touchdown grab.

In all, he had five plays of 18 or more yards in the first half, including an 18-yard run to earn Bart Starr MVP honors. His 182 receiving yards eclipsed the previous record of 180 yards by Arkansas State receiver Omar Bayless in 2019.

“We’ve been talking about this for weeks,” USA quarterback Bishop Davenport said. “There is a bond between us. We are roommates.”

In the second half, South Alabama kept the ball on the ground as Davenport, making just his second start of the season in place of injured quarterback Gio Lopez, and running back Kentrell Bullock combined for 216 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

“I am proud of our team and the way we responded in the second half,” South Alabama head coach Major Applewhite said.

South Alabama finished with a bowl record 537 total yards, breaking the previous mark of 525 yards set by Arkansas State in 2019. The Jaguars had 266 rushing yards and 271 passing yards against the Broncos.

Davenport finished with 356 total yards in the win. He completed 15-of-24 passes for 271 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran the ball 11 times for 85 yards and one touchdown.

“South Alabama got the ball to their playmakers,” WMU head coach Lance Taylor. “They were dynamic in the run game and had guys running wide open. We missed too many tackles.”

South Alabama (7-6) recorded its third straight winning season and won its second bowl game in school history.

The Jaguars scored on their first possession of the second half when Davenport sprinted 50 yards for a touchdown to push the lead to 23-13.

Western Michigan (6-7) scored on its opening drive of the fourth quarter capped by Hayden Wolff’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Sambucci to cut the deficit to 23-20.

South Alabama made it 30-20 on its next possession when Bullock raced 22 yards into the end zone for a touchdown to seal the win with 2:42 remaining in the game. He finished with 17 carries for 131 yards and one touchdown.

Western Michigan answered with a 48-yard field goal by Luka Zurak to make it 30-27 with just over one minute to play.

South Alabama senior receiver Devin Voisin recovered the onside kick and the Jaguars ran out the clock.

Western Michigan scored on its first two possessions to take a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.

The Broncos used two big plays to cover 71 yards for a touchdown on the opening possession. Wolff opened the game with a 23-yard completion to Kenneth Womack. Jaden Nichols then ran 36 yards to the South Alabama 13-yard line and a personal foul penalty moved the ball to the 6-yard line. Jalen Buckley ran five yards to the 1-yard line and then capped the drive with a touchdown on the next play to give the Broncos a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game. 

Zurak stretched the lead to 10-0 with a 37-yard field goal with 14:50 left in the first half.

South Alabama got its offense on track and scored on three straight possessions to take a 16-10 lead in the second quarter.

The Jaguars capped a 9-play, 69-yard drive with a 24-yard field goal by Hamilton DiBoyan, the No. 3 kicker of the depth chart, and the second kicker used by South Alabama in the game. Webb hauled in a 35-yard pass and added an 18-yard run on the drive for the Jags .

South Alabama scored in two plays on its next possession to tie the game at 10-10. Davenport completed a 28-yard pass to Devin Voisin and then connected on a 52-yard TD strike to Webb to even the score.

The Jaguars took their first lead when Davenport and Webb teamed up a 45-yard touchdown pass with 4:50 left in the half. The extra point was no good, leaving the Jags with a 16-10 lead.

A late interception by WMU cornerback Josh Franklin set up a 29-yard field goal by Zurak to make it 16-13 at halftime.