2018 Camellia Bowl
Game nameCamellia Bowl
Subheader5th Camellia Bowl
Title sponsorRaycom Media
Date game playedDecember 15
Year game played2018
Football season2018
StadiumCramton Bowl
CityMontgomery, Alabama
Visitor schoolGeorgia Southern University
Visitor name shortGeorgia Southern
Visitor nicknameEagles
Visitor record9–3
Visitor conferenceSun Belt
Visitor coachChad Lunsford
Visitor 1q7
Visitor 2q10
Visitor 3q0
Visitor 4q6
Home schoolEastern Michigan University
Home name shortEastern Michigan
Home nicknameEagles
Home record7–5
Home conferenceMAC
Home coachChris Creighton
Home 1q0
Home 2q7
Home 3q7
Home 4q7
MvpShai Werts (QB, Georgia Southern)[1]
OddsGeorgia Southern by 1[2]
RefereeAnthony Calabrese (AAC)
Attendance17,710[3]
Payout250,000 [4]
Us networkESPN & ESPN Radio
Us announcersMike Corey, Rene Ingoglia and Lauren Sisler (ESPN)
Jay Alter and Ben Hartsock (ESPN Radio)
Intl networkESPN Deportes
Intl announcersEduardo Varela and Pablo Viruega

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.

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

Statistics

StatisticsGASOEMU
First downs1814
Plays–yards65–36450–301
Rushes–yards58–33124–97
Passing yards33204
Passing: Comp–Att–Int4–7–017–26–0
Time of possession37:3822:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts4/7, 33 yds
RushingWesley Kennedy III9 car, 107 yds
ReceivingEllis Richardson1 rec, 15 yds
Eastern MichiganPassingMike Glass17/25, 204 yds, 3 TD
RushingWillie Parker9 car, 44 yds
ReceivingArthur Jackson3 rec, 86 yds, 2 TD

References

  1. ^ "Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan - Game Recap - December 15, 2018 - ESPN"
  2. ^ Fawkes, Ben (December 10, 2018). "Odds for every 2018-19 CFB bowl game". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "Georgia Southern vs. Eastern Michigan - Team Statistics - December 15, 2018 - ESPN"
  4. ^ "2018 Bowl Schedule". CFP.com. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  5. ^ "2018-19 College Football Playoff and bowl schedule". ESPN. May 2, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  6. ^ "Fifth annual Raycom Media Camellia Bowl set for Saturday, Dec. 15". camelliabowl.com. 2 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Eastern Michigan Eagles football series history". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  8. ^ "SOURCES: Georgia Southern to play in Raycom Media Camellia Bowl"
  9. ^ "Georgia Southern Eagles to play in 2018 Camellia Bowl". 28 November 2018.
  10. ^ "EMU to Play Georgia Southern in Raycom Media Camellia Bowl"