The 2019 Cure Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 21, 2019, in Orlando, Florida, with kickoff at 2:30 p.m. EST on CBS Sports Network.[6] It was the fifth edition of the Cure Bowl, and one of the 2019–20 bowl games concluding the 2019 FBS football season. This was first Cure Bowl played at Exploria Stadium, as all prior editions were held at nearby Camping World Stadium.[7] With FBC Mortgage as the title sponsor, the game was officially known as the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl.[8] Liberty defeated Georgia Southern 23–16, to claim their first bowl win in program history.[9][10]

2019 FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl
5th Cure Bowl
1234 Total
Liberty 7970 23
Georgia Southern 0763 16
DateDecember 21, 2019
Season2019
StadiumExploria Stadium
LocationOrlando, Florida
MVPJessie Lemonier (DE, Liberty)[1]
FavoriteGeorgia Southern by 4.5[2]
RefereeKevin Hassell (Mountain West)[3]
Attendance18,158[4]
PayoutUS$573,125[5]
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS Sports Network
AnnouncersCarter Blackburn (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), John Schriffen (sideline)
Cure Bowl
 < 2018  2020

Teams edit

The game was played between the Liberty Flames and the Georgia Southern Eagles. Georgia Southern held a 3–0 record against Liberty in prior meetings.[11]

Liberty Flames edit

Liberty finished their regular season with a 7–5 record while competing as an independent. This was the Flames' first bowl game since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision, accomplished in their first season of being eligible to qualify for a bowl game.

Georgia Southern Eagles edit

Georgia Southern finished their regular season with a 7–5 record (5–3 in conference), in second place of the East Division of the Sun Belt Conference. This was the Eagles' third bowl game since moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2014; they had an undefeated record of 2–0 in prior bowls. Their 2018 team won that season's Camellia Bowl over Eastern Michigan, 23–21.

 
The first American football game at Exploria Stadium

Game summary edit

2019 Cure Bowl
Period 1 2 34Total
Liberty 7 9 7023
Georgia Southern 0 7 6316

at Exploria StadiumOrlando, Florida

Game information
First Quarter
  • (3:31) LIB – Stephen Calvert 57 yard pass to Johnny Huntley, Alex Probert kick (Drive: 6 plays, 88 yards, 1:48; Liberty 7–0)
Second Quarter
  • (14:53) GASO – Wesley Kennedy III 10 yard rush, Tyler Bass kick (Drive: 7 plays, 79 yards. 3:38; Tied 7–7)
  • (13:22) LIB – Joshua Mack 3 yard rush, kick failed (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 1:31; Liberty 13–7)
  • (1:02) LIB – Alex Probert 46 yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 32 yards, 0:34; Liberty 16–7)
Third Quarter
  • (12:01) LIB – Stephen Calvert 14 yard pass to Antonio Gandy-Golden, Alex Probert kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:59; Liberty 23–7)
  • (6:20) GASO – Tyler Bass 28 yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 19 yards, 3:29; Liberty 23–10)
  • (2:49) GASO – Tyler Bass 30 yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 64 yards, 2:28; Liberty 23–13)
Fourth Quarter
  • (1:44) GASO – Tyler Bass 35 yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 55 yards, 4:51; Liberty 23–16)

Statistics edit

Statistics LIB GASO
First downs 19 14
Total yards 402 289
Rushes–yards 37–132 46–194
Passing yards 270 95
Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–35–2 10–19–1
Time of possession 31:18 28:42
Team Category Player Statistics
Liberty Passing Stephen Calvert 16/35, 270 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Frankie Hickson 22 carries, 120 yards
Receiving Johnny Huntley 2 receptions, 90 yards
Georgia Southern Passing Shai Werts 10/19, 95 yards, 1 TD
Rushing Wesley Kennedy III 9 receptions, 104 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Mark Michaud 2 receptions, 53 yards

References edit

  1. ^ @ASeaofRed (December 21, 2019). "Jessie Lemonier is named MVP of the 2019 Cure Bowl" (Tweet). Retrieved December 21, 2019 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "Liberty vs. Georgia Southern - Game Summary - December 21, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  3. ^ "2019-20 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  4. ^ @EmptySeatsPics (December 21, 2019). "Announced crowd of 18,158 (71% capacity) for the 2019 FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl at Exploria Stadium" (Tweet). Retrieved December 21, 2019 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ "2019 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  6. ^ "2019-20 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, times, TV channels". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  7. ^ McElwain, John (May 1, 2019). "2019 Cure Bowl to be Played at Orlando City Stadium". sunbeltsports.org. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  8. ^ "FBC Mortgage Named Title Sponsor of the Cure Bowl and March 2 Cure". CureBowl.com (Press release). December 6, 2019. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  9. ^ Sordelett, Damien (December 21, 2019). "Liberty's defense delivers in Cure Bowl victory over Georgia Southern". The News & Advance. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  10. ^ Anthony, Mike (December 21, 2019). "Eagles fall to Liberty in Cure Bowl". Statesboro Herald. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2019.
  11. ^ "Georgia Southern Eagles football all-time record, wins, and statistics". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 21, 2019.

External links edit