MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Jeremiah Webb set a South Alabama record with 182 receiving yards and two touchdowns, and Kentrel Bullock’s late 22-yard touchdown run sealed a 30-23 win over Western Michigan in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl on Saturday.
The bowl victory gave South Alabama a 7-6 record in its first season under head coach Major Applewhite. The Jaguars contended for the Sun Belt Conference West Division title this season before falling short of a berth in the conference championship game.
Slow Start
Western Michigan scored a touchdown on its opening possession. South Alabama answered with a drive deep into Broncos territory, but it stalled, and true freshman Davis Little missed a field goal attempt wide left. Little was handling kicking duties after Laith Marjan entered the transfer portal.
The Broncos added a field goal 10 seconds into the second quarter for a 10-0 lead. Hamilton DiBoyan, another true freshman kicker, put South Alabama on the board with a field goal.
Webb’s Two Long Touchdowns
After a South Alabama defensive stop, quarterback Bishop Davenport needed two plays to tie the game. He completed a 28-yard pass to Devin Voisin, then found Webb for a 52-yard touchdown.
Another three-and-out by the defense gave the Jaguars the ball back. Davenport threw deep to Webb, who wrestled the ball away from a defender and scored to make it 16-10 after a missed extra point. Western Michigan kicked a field goal late in the half to trail 16-13 at halftime.
Davenport, Bullock Close It Out
Late in the third quarter, Davenport ran 50 yards for a touchdown and a 23-13 lead. Western Michigan pulled within three past the midpoint of the fourth quarter when Hayden Wolff threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Sambucci.
Facing fourth-and-1 at the Broncos’ 27, Bullock ran for 5 yards to extend the drive, then carried the ball the final 22 yards on the next play for a 30-20 lead. Western Michigan made a 48-yard field goal but failed to recover the ensuing onside kick, and South Alabama ran out the clock.
Statistical Leaders
- Bishop Davenport: 15 of 24 passing for 271 yards, two touchdowns and an interception; 85 rushing yards and a touchdown on 11 carries.
- Kentrel Bullock: game-high 130 rushing yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
- Jeremiah Webb: six catches for a school-record 182 yards and two touchdowns.
- Jaden Voisin: nine tackles, four solo, with a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry in his final game.
- Blayne Myrick: nine tackles, four solo.
- Amarion Fortenberry: one interception.
- Ed Smith IV and Jordan Norman: one sack each.
For Western Michigan, Wolff completed 17 of 27 passes for 196 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Kenneth Womack caught five passes for 89 yards, and Sambucci had three catches for 36 yards and a touchdown. Jaden Nixon led the Broncos with 45 rushing yards on 11 carries, Zahir Abdus-Salaam added 33 on nine carries and Jalen Buckley ran for 26 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
