2018 Camellia Bowl

The 2018 Camellia Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 15, 2018,^[5] with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST (4:30 p.m. local CST).^[6] It was the fifth edition of the Camellia Bowl, and one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. Sponsored by broadcasting company Raycom Media, the game was officially known as the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.

2018 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
5th Camellia Bowl
2018 Camellia Bowl kick-off
Georgia Southern Eagles Eastern Michigan Eagles (9–3) (7–5) Sun Belt MAC 23 21 Head coach:  Chad Lunsford Head coach:  Chris Creighton
1 2 3 4 Total Georgia Southern 7 10 0 6 23 Eastern Michigan 0 7 7 7 21
Date	December 15, 2018
Season	2018
Stadium	Cramton Bowl
Location	Montgomery, Alabama
MVP	Shai Werts (QB, Georgia Southern)[1]
Favorite	Georgia Southern by 1[2]
Referee	Anthony Calabrese (AAC)
Attendance	17,710[3]
Payout	US$250,000 [4]
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN & ESPN Radio
Announcers	Mike Corey, Rene Ingoglia and Lauren Sisler (ESPN) Jay Alter and Ben Hartsock (ESPN Radio)
International TV coverage
Network	ESPN Deportes
Announcers	Eduardo Varela and Pablo Viruega
Camellia Bowl  < 2017  2019 >

Teams

The game featured the Eastern Michigan Eagles from the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and the Georgia Southern Eagles of the Sun Belt Conference. This was the first meeting between the two programs.^[7]

Georgia Southern Eagles

Main article: 2018 Georgia Southern Eagles football team

On November 28, Georgia-based news organizations reported that Georgia Southern would play in the Camellia Bowl,^[8][9] which was confirmed via an official announcement on December 2.^[10] They entered the bowl with a 9–3 record (6–2 in conference). The Eagles had previously played in one bowl game, winning the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl over Bowling Green; before 2014, the team competed in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA).

Eastern Michigan Eagles

Main article: 2018 Eastern Michigan Eagles football team

Eastern Michigan received and accepted a bid to the Camellia Bowl on December 2.^[10] The Eagles entered the bowl with a 7–5 record (5–3 in conference). This was the Eagles' second bowl game in the last three years, having also played in the 2016 Bahamas Bowl where they were defeated by Old Dominion, 24–20.

Game summary

Scoring summary

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP GASO EMU 1 1:52 15 95 9:01 GASO Shai Werts 26-yard touchdown run, Tyler Bass kick good 7 0 2 7:53 6 50 3:15 EMU Tyler Lyle 1-yard touchdown reception from Mike Glass, Chad Ryland kick good 7 7 2 3:48 7 82 4:05 GASO Shai Werts 5-yard touchdown run, Tyler Bass kick good 14 7 2 0:00 9 29 2:46 GASO 50-yard field goal by Tyler Bass 17 7 3 14:17 1 75 0:15 EMU Arthur Jackson 75-yard touchdown reception from Mike Glass, Chad Ryland kick good 17 14 4 9:49 8 38 4:12 GASO 35-yard field goal by Tyler Bass 20 14 4 3:33 16 75 6:16 EMU Arthur Jackson 5-yard touchdown reception from Mike Glass, Chad Ryland kick good 20 21 4 0:00 9 52 3:33 GASO 40-yard field goal by Tyler Bass 23 21 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 23 21

Statistics

Georgia Southern on offense during the game

	1	2	3	4	Total
GASO Eagles	7	10	0	6	23
EMU Eagles	0	7	7	7	21

Statistics	GASO	EMU
First downs	18	14
Plays–yards	65–364	50–301
Rushes–yards	58–331	24–97
Passing yards	33	204
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	4–7–0	17–26–0
Time of possession	37:38	22:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Georgia Southern	Passing	Shai Werts	4/7, 33 yds
	Rushing	Wesley Kennedy III	9 car, 107 yds
	Receiving	Ellis Richardson	1 rec, 15 yds
Eastern Michigan	Passing	Mike Glass	17/25, 204 yds, 3 TD
	Rushing	Willie Parker	9 car, 44 yds
	Receiving	Arthur Jackson	3 rec, 86 yds, 2 TD