The Western Michigan Broncos concluded their football season on Saturday night with a tough 30-23 defeat against the South Alabama Jaguars at the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, held at the Crampton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. Despite their powerful start, the Broncos could not hold onto their early lead as the Jaguars rallied back to secure their second consecutive bowl victory and improve their all-time bowl record to 2-3.
Western Michigan jumped out to an impressive start, going up 10-0 after the first quarter. It all began with Jalen Buckley’s 1-yard touchdown run, followed by Luka Zurak’s 37-yard field goal just ten seconds after the second quarter started. But as they say, momentum can shift quickly in football. The Jaguars responded just moments later, with quarterback Bishop Davenport launching the comeback.
Davenport, who made his second start of the season, showcased his skill and poise throughout the game. The redshirt sophomore completed 15 of 24 passes for 271 yards and tossed two touchdowns, proving to be both a formidable passer and runner with 85 rushing yards, including a remarkable 50-yard touchdown run. It was clear he had come to play.
"Davenport completed 15 of 24 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns," said one South Alabama report, highlighting his significant contributions to the team's success.
Meanwhile, redshirt senior wide receiver Jeremiah Webb had an outstanding night as well. He caught six passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns, establishing new records for both the bowl game and his own personal best. Their synergy was palpable, especially on the Jaguars' second touchdown, with Webb outmaneuvering defenders for a stunning 45-yard catch and run.
But the Broncos didn’t back down easily. Western Michigan's quarterback Hayden Wolff displayed resilience, completing 17 of 27 passes for 196 yards and finding Anthony Sambucci for a touchdown strike, narrowing the scoring gap to 23-20 with just over six minutes left to play.
Despite the fierce competition, South Alabama managed to maintain their slim lead. After forcing the Broncos to settle for another field goal from Zurak—who set a WMU bowl record with three field goals—South Alabama sealed their victory when running back Kentrel Bullock scored on a 22-yard rush, extending their lead to 30-20.
Adding to the drama, with just over one minute remaining, South Alabama's Devin Voisin recovered the Broncos' onside kick attempt, effectively putting the game on ice. It was this thrilling sequence of events under pressure and strategic gameplay by each team, especially from the Jaguars, which nabbed South Alabama their second bowl win, breaking new ground for the program.
"South Alabama improves to 2-3 in five all-time bowl appearances after securing back-to-back bowl wins for the first time,” reflected the South Alabama report on this historic moment.
For the Broncos, the season ended at 6-7 overall with a 5-3 record within the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Coach Lance Taylor and his squad will likely engage in thorough reflection and analysis this offseason, considering how to build on the strengths they demonstrated at various points during the year, but also addressing their struggles, particularly during the second half of games where inconsistency was evident.
With South Alabama finishing their record at 7-6, this marked their third straight season with a winning record and reflects their continued progress under first-year head coach Major Applewhite. The Jaguars demonstrated their potential to compete at high levels, compelling performances providing hope for their future seasons.
Looking forward, the Broncos have shown flashes of brilliance, but they’ll need to reassess their strategies and strengthen their overall performance against tougher opponents to rise back to contention next year. The 2024 season will be pivotal for Western Michigan as they aim to reframe their narrative.
Fans of both teams will watch closely as this season concludes, with players, coaching staff, and supporters eager to learn from this game and look forward to the challenges and opportunities waiting on the horizon.