MOBILE — South Alabama secured its first bowl championship in program history on Saturday, Dec. 23, when it dismantled Eastern Michigan, 59-10, in the 68 Ventures Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium.

With the win, the Jaguars finished the season with an overall record of 7-6. It marked the first time in program history they recorded back-to-back winning seasons as a full Division I participant.

"A lot of work goes into a moment like this," said head coach Kane Wommack. "It goes way beyond just our players this season. There were young men who came here over a decade ago to build something special. They ran hills on what is now Hancock Whitney Stadium. They came here with nothing, knowing that they were going to build a foundation for us to walk upon. At some point, you have a group of young men who take ownership and actualize those dreams, and that's what exactly these guys up here with me and those guys celebrating in the locker room have done."

The Jags were dominant in all three phases of the game from start to finish. South Alabama put up 627 yards of total offense and held Eastern Michigan to just 150 on the night. That total included a 417-27 advantage in the first half alone.

Familiar faces shine bright

Daphne alum Diego Guajardo, who overtook the school record for all-time scoring in September, took home the bowl game’s Special Teams MVP award after he finished 8-for-8 on PATs and added a 46-yard field goal.

The Jaguar defense also forced two turnovers while the punt unit collected another, and the offense scored on six of its first eight drives. South Alabama's 59 points were the most in the program's Division I history.

Sophomore linebacker Blayne Myrick from Fairhope was one of four Jaguar tacklers with a team second-best four total tackles and added one tackle for a loss of six yards.

Offensive outburst ends season

South Alabama true freshman quarterback Gio Lopez was named 68 Ventures Bowl MVP after he threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns, then ran for an additional 88 yards and a score. He rotated snaps with fellow quarterback Desmond Trotter, who started the game and completed nine passes for 115 yards and a touchdown. Trotter also punched in a rushing touchdown of his own.

Jamaal Pritchett won the bowl game's Offensive MVP award on eight catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Fellow pass catcher DJ Thomas-Jones also hauled in two receiving touchdowns on the night which pushed his total to five touchdowns in the final two games of the season. The Jaguars’ other touchdowns happened on the ground courtesy of Kentrel Bullock and PJ Martin, who scored his first touchdown in a South Alabama uniform.

No Fly Zone

On the defensive side of the ball, the Jaguars were led by Defensive MVP Jamie Sheriff, who tallied four tackles, two tackles for loss and two quarterback hurries. Jaden Voisin was the team's leading tackler with five.

The defensive backfield put on an impressive display for South Alabama and limited the Eagles to just 73 yards through the air, broke up four passes and stole two interceptions. Marquise Robinson picked off one pass in addition to three pass breakups, and Jalen Jordan intercepted the other.