Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston State: R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl box score, stats and game summary feat. Hunter Watson 

The Georgia Southern Eagles matched up against the Sam Houston State Bearkats in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Thursday night. The two teams kicked off from Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, at 7:00 p.m. EST.

Georgia Southern finished their regular season with an 8-4 record, concluding the year with a 29-20 win over Appalachian State on Nov. 30. Sam Houston State flipped the script in their second season in the FBS, finishing the regular season with a 9-3 record. Before their bowl game, the Bearkats wrapped up the year with a 20-18 win over Liberty on Nov. 29.

Sam Houston State came out swinging in the first half, taking a 21-10 lead into the locker rooms at halftime. The Bearkats defense forced three turnovers and held the Eagles scoreless in the opening quarter.

Sam Houston prevailed in the fourth quarter despite a second-half surge from Georgia Southern. The Bearkats outlasted the Eagles 31-26 for the first bowl victory in program history.

Here are box scores, stats and game summary from the 2024 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl:

Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston State: Box Score

Team	1Q	2Q	3Q	4Q	Final
GSU	0	10	9	7	26
SHSU	7	14	0	10	31

Georgia Southern Player Stats

Quarterback:

Player	Comp.	Att.	Pass. YDS	Pass. TD	INT	Carries	Rush YDS	Rush TD
JC French	20	33	212	1	4	16	34	1

Rushing and receiving:

Player	Carries	Rush YDS	Rush TD	Reception	Rec. YDS	Rec. TD
Jalen White	16	90	1	2	5	0
David Mbadinga	7	31	0	1	7	0
Josh Dallas	1	13	0	5	46	`1
Dalen Cobb	`1	9	0	2	42	0
Terrance Gibbs	1	4	0	0	0	0
Derwin Burgess Jr.	0	0	0	6	56	0
Marcus Sanders Jr.	0	0	0	1	43	0
LV Bunkley-Shelton	0	0	0	2	16	0
Tyler Fromm	0	0	0	1	-3	0

Kicking:

Player	Extra Points	Field Goals	Total Points
Gavin Stewart	2/2	2/2	8

Sam Houston State Player Stats

Quarterback:

Player	Comp.	Att	Pass. YDS	Pass. TD	INT	Carries	Rush YDS	Rush TD
Hunter Watson	23	28	213	1	0	16	24	2

Rushing and receiving:

Player	Carries	Rush YDS	Rush TD	Reception	Rec. YDS	Rec. TD
Jay Ducker	10	26	0	0	0	0
Noah Smith	2	6	0	5	28	0
DJ McKinney	2	2	0	1	20	0
Zach Hrbacek	1	-3	0	0	0	0
Simeon Evans	0	0	0	7	85	1
Ife Adeyi	0	0	0	4	33	0
Qua’Vez Humphreys	0	0	0	2	23	0
Michael Phoenix II	0	0	0	2	14	0
Elijah Sohn	0	0	0	1	6	0
Lonnie Adkism	0	0	0	1	4	0

Kicking:

Player	Extra Points	Field Goals	Total Points
Christian Pavon	4/4	1/1	7

Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston State: Game Summary

Sam Houston State scored the lone points of the opening period thanks to a pick-six from senior defensive back Jaylon Jimmerson, giving the Bearkats a 7-0 lead entering the second quarter. After two punts from each side and an exchange of turnovers, Georgia Southern mustered an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass from JC French to Josh Dallas to tie the game at 7-7.

Sam Houston State responded with an eight-play drive highlighted by a 33-yard pitch-and-catch from Hunter Watson to Simeon Evans to give the Bearkats a 14-7 lead with under six minutes remaining in the first half. Sam Houston State forced a third interception and capitalized with a short rushing touchdown from Watson to take a 21-7 lead.

Georgia Southern marched 55 yards before time expired in the first half to cut the lead to 21-10 following a 49-yard field goal.

The Eagles held Sam Houston scoreless in the third period. Georgia Southern punched in a short touchdown after a 43-yard connection between French and Marcus Sanders Jr., cutting the lead to 21-16. A 49-yard field goal brought the score to 21-19 entering the final quarter.

Sam Houston opened the fourth quarter with an explosive six-play, 88-yard drive to extend their lead to 28-19. The Bearkats sealed the win with a 21-yard field goal to bring the score to 31-19. Georgia Southern scored a last-minute touchdown to bring the final score to 31-26.