Sam Houston earned its first FBS bowl game victory with a 31-26 victory over Georgia Southern in the 2024 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Thursday evening at the Caesars Superdome.
Source: Conference USA
Photo: Courtesy Sam Houston Athletics
NEW ORLEANS –The Bearkats (10-3, 6-2 CUSA) defense forced a handful of Eagle mishaps, including four interceptions, and turned those into 14 points. Defensive back Jaylon Jimmerson was named the game’s MVP after he intercepted two passes and racked up 10 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Jimmerson’s first pick came on Georgia Southern’s (8-5, 6-2 Sun Belt) first play from scrimmage and opened the scoring for Sam Houston. His second came with just under five minutes left in the first half and led to another Bearkat score four plays later.
The most pivotal score came at the start of the fourth quarter, when Sam Houston went on an eight-play, 88-yard scoring drive to push the lead to 28-19 with 11:37 remaining in the ballgame. Wide receiver Simeon Evans fought down to the one-yard line on a 31-yard gain to set up Watson’s second rushing touchdown. Evans led the Bearkats in receptions (seven) and yards (85) and tallied 77 of his yards after the catch, including a 33-yard dash on a screen pass for a touchdown.
Quarterback Hunter Watson completed a season-high 23 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown and added 24 yards and two scores on the ground. It marked his ninth multi-score game of the season but the first with one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown.
After an incomplete pass to start the game, Watson completed his next 14 passes to help Sam Houston mount a 21-7 lead in the opening half. The 14 consecutive completions tied a New Orleans Bowl record.
The win marked the second-straight year that a Conference USA member earned its first bowl win in the New Orleans Bowl after Jax State’s 34-31 overtime victory over Louisiana last season, and it extends CUSA’s winning streak in the game to three.
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