2018 Camellia Bowl


The 2018 Camellia Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 15, 2018, with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. EST. It was the fifth edition of the Camellia Bowl, and one of the 2018–19 bowl games concluding the 2018 FBS football season. Sponsored by broadcasting company Raycom Media, the game was officially known as the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.

Teams

The game featured the Eastern Michigan Eagles from the Mid-American Conference and the Georgia Southern Eagles of the Sun Belt Conference. This was the first meeting between the two programs.

Georgia Southern Eagles

On November 28, Georgia-based news organizations reported that Georgia Southern would play in the Camellia Bowl, which was confirmed via an official announcement on December 2. They entered the bowl with a 9–3 record. The Eagles had previously played in one bowl game, winning the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl over Bowling Green; before 2014, the team competed in the Football Championship Subdivision.

Eastern Michigan Eagles

Eastern Michigan received and accepted a bid to the Camellia Bowl on December 2. The Eagles entered the bowl with a 7–5 record. This was the Eagles' second bowl game in the last three years, having also played in the 2016 Bahamas Bowl where they were defeated by Old Dominion, 24–20.

Game summary

Scoring summary

Statistics

StatisticsGASOEMU
First downs1814
Plays–yards65–36450–301
Rushes–yards58–33124–97
Passing yards33204
Passing: Comp–Att–Int4–7–017–26–0
Time of possession37:3822:22

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Georgia SouthernPassingShai Werts4/7, 33 yds
Georgia SouthernRushingWesley Kennedy III9 car, 107 yds
Georgia SouthernReceivingEllis Richardson1 rec, 15 yds
Eastern MichiganPassingMike Glass17/25, 204 yds, 3 TD
Eastern MichiganRushingWillie Parker9 car, 44 yds
Eastern MichiganReceivingArthur Jackson3 rec, 86 yds, 2 TD