NEW ORLEANS — Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed threw for a New Orleans Bowl-record 497 yards and four touchdowns as the Hilltoppers beat South Alabama 44-23 in the New Orleans Bowl.
South Alabama finished the season 10-3. Western Kentucky improved to 9-5.
Hilltoppers Push the Tempo
Western Kentucky, which ran an up-tempo offense throughout the season, increased its pace in the bowl game, and South Alabama’s defense had difficulty getting calls in and lining up before the snap. An early Hilltoppers touchdown came with Yam Banks matched in coverage against a wide receiver.
Western Kentucky finished with 677 yards of total offense, including 522 passing yards, and averaged 9.3 yards per pass attempt and 8.3 yards per play. South Alabama did not record a sack.
Banks also produced one of the Jaguars’ defensive highlights, making a leaping, one-handed interception in the end zone to stop a Western Kentucky drive.
Statistical Leaders
Reed completed 36 of 55 passes with four touchdowns and one interception. Three Western Kentucky receivers topped 100 yards:
- Dalvin Smith caught six passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.
- Jaylen Hall caught nine passes for 138 yards and a touchdown.
- Malachi Corley caught 11 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Markese Stepp led Western Kentucky with 63 rushing yards on seven carries, and Davion Ervin-Poindexter ran nine times for 33 yards.
South Alabama gained 421 yards, 377 passing and a net 44 rushing after sack yardage.
- Carter Bradley completed 36 of 53 passes for 360 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
- Devin Voisin caught 11 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown.
- Caullin Lacy had seven catches for 57 yards.
- DJ Thomas-Jones caught four passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.
- La’Damian Webb caught four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown and led the Jaguars with 48 rushing yards on 12 carries. Braylon McReynolds added 15 yards on four carries.
- CJ Thompson led the defense with seven tackles, six solo. Trey Kiser, CJ Rias and Jalen Jordan each had a tackle for loss.
A Record Season
Despite the loss, the 2022 Jaguars set a program record for wins in a season since moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision. South Alabama entered the bowl game with two regular-season losses by a combined five points.
The bowl appearance also gave the Jaguars additional practice sessions in December ahead of spring practice.
