2019 Cure Bowl
Game nameCure Bowl
Subheader5th Cure Bowl
Title sponsorFBC Mortgage
Date game playedDecember 21
Year game played2019
Football season2019
StadiumExploria Stadium
CityOrlando, Florida
Visitor name shortLiberty
Visitor nicknameFlames
Visitor record7–5
Visitor conferenceIndependent
Visitor coachHugh Freeze
Visitor 1q7
Visitor 2q9
Visitor 3q7
Visitor 4q0
Home name shortGeorgia Southern
Home nicknameEagles
Home record7–5
Home conferenceSun Belt
Home coachChad Lunsford
Home 1q0
Home 2q7
Home 3q6
Home 4q3
MvpJessie Lemonier (DE, Liberty)[1]
OddsGeorgia Southern by 4.5[2]
RefereeKevin Hassell (Mountain West)[3]
Attendance18,158[4]
Payout573,125[5]
Us networkCBS Sports Network
Us announcersCarter Blackburn (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), John Schriffen (sideline)

The 2019 Cure Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 21, 2019, in Orlando, Florida, with kickoff at 2:30 p.m. EST on CBS Sports Network.[6] It was the fifth edition of the Cure Bowl, and one of the 2019–20 bowl games concluding the 2019 FBS football season. This was first Cure Bowl played at Exploria Stadium, as all prior editions were held at nearby Camping World Stadium.[7] With FBC Mortgage as the title sponsor, the game was officially known as the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl.[8] Liberty defeated Georgia Southern 23–16, to claim their first bowl win in program history.[9][10]

Teams

The game was played between the Liberty Flames and the Georgia Southern Eagles. Georgia Southern held a 3–0 record against Liberty in prior meetings.[11]

Liberty Flames

Liberty finished their regular season with a 7–5 record while competing as an independent. This was the Flames' first bowl game since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision, accomplished in their first season of being eligible to qualify for a bowl game.

Georgia Southern Eagles

Georgia Southern finished their regular season with a 7–5 record (5–3 in conference), in second place of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. This was the Eagles' third bowl game since moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2014; they had an undefeated record of 2–0 in prior bowls. Their 2018 team won that season's Camellia Bowl over Eastern Michigan, 23–21.

Game summary

Statistics

StatisticsLIBGASO
First downs1914
Total yards402289
Rushes–yards37–13246–194
Passing yards27095
Passing: Comp–Att–Int16–35–210–19–1
Time of possession31:1828:42
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
LibertyPassingStephen Calvert16/35, 270 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingFrankie Hickson22 carries, 120 yards
ReceivingJohnny Huntley2 receptions, 90 yards
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts10/19, 95 yards, 1 TD
RushingWesley Kennedy III9 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingMark Michaud2 receptions, 53 yards

References

  1. ^ "Jessie Lemonier is named MVP of the 2019 Cure Bowl". No. 1208529022348660736. December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  2. ^ "Liberty vs. Georgia Southern - Game Summary - December 21, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  3. ^ "2019-20 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "Announced crowd of 18,158 (71% capacity) for the 2019 FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl at Exploria Stadium.". No. 1208528038163558402. December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  5. ^ "2019 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  6. ^ "2019-20 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, times, TV channels". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  7. ^ McElwain, John (May 1, 2019). "2019 Cure Bowl to be Played at Orlando City Stadium". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  8. ^ "FBC Mortgage Named Title Sponsor of the Cure Bowl and March 2 Cure". CureBowl.com. December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  9. ^ Sordelett, Damien (December 21, 2019). "Liberty's defense delivers in Cure Bowl victory over Georgia Southern". The News & Advance. Archived December 22, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  10. ^ Anthony, Mike (December 21, 2019). "Eagles fall to Liberty in Cure Bowl". Statesboro Herald. Archived December 22, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  11. ^ "Georgia Southern Eagles football all-time record, wins, and statistics". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 21, 2019.