2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl
4th Myrtle Beach Bowl
Georgia Southern Eagles Ohio Bobcats
(6–6) (9–3)
Sun Belt MAC
21 41
Head coach: 
Clay Helton		 Head coach: 
Tim Albin
1234 Total
Georgia Southern 00147 21
Ohio 317147 41
DateDecember 16, 2023
Season2023
StadiumBrooks Stadium
LocationConway, South Carolina
MVPRickey Hunt Jr. (RB, Ohio)[1]
FavoriteGeorgia Southern by 3.5[2]
National anthemGreg Rowles & Festive Brass of Myrtle Beach[3]
RefereePatrick Foy (Mountain West)[4]
Attendance8,059
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersDrew Carter (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)

The 2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 16, 2023, at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. The fourth edition of the Myrtle Beach Bowl, the game featured the Georgia Southern Eagles from the Sun Belt Conference and the Ohio Bobcats from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). It began at approximately 11:00 a.m. EST and was televised on ESPN. It was the first of the 2023–24 bowl games concluding the 2023 FBS football season.

The game was originally scheduled for December 18, 2023, but was moved forward by two days to help accommodate a venue move for the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl.[5]

Ohio's Freshman running back Rickey Hunt had 115 rushing yards and five total TDs with four if those coming on the ground. That won him the game's MVP and came in his first extended playing time of his career.[6][7] His 5 TD's tied the record in bowl games and set an Ohio program record.[8] Third-string quarterback Parker Navarro also played well in his first collegiate with start with 11 competitions on 16 attempts for 120 yards and 71 rushing yards.[9][10] For Georgia Southern, Davis Brin threw for a Myrtle Beach Bowl record 350 yards, bringing his total for the year to 3,781, but his three interceptions and lost fumble provided much of the difference in the game in Ohio's 41–21 victory.[11] Georgia Southern outgained Ohio by 21 yards but Ohio won the turnover battle 5–0, held the Eagles to 1.6 yards per rush attempt, and, with 232 total rushing yards, held the ball for almost seven more minutes.[12] Bryce Houston led the Bobcat defense with eight tackles.[13] Ohio sacked Brin five times.[14]

Teams

The game featured the Georgia Southern Eagles from the Sun Belt Conference against the Ohio Bobcats from the Mid-American Conference (MAC). This was the first time Georgia Southern and Ohio ever played each other, as well as the first time either team played in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.[15]

Georgia Southern

Behind their senior transfer QB Davis Brin, the Eagles started the year 6–2, with the sole losses coming to James Madison, who went on to finish the season 11–1, and Power Five opponent Wisconsin, a game in which Brin threw five interceptions. However, after clinching bowl eligibility on October 26 with a win over Georgia State, the Eagles were winless in November and finished their regular season with a record of 6–6.

Ohio

After finishing as the runner-up in the MAC the previous year, the Bobcats returned most of their offensive talent in 2023, including quarterback Kurtis Rourke. After opening the season with a loss to San Diego State, Ohio rattled off five straight wins, including a 10–7 victory over Power Five foe Iowa State. Ohio clinched bowl eligibility with a 20–17 victory over Western Michigan, but missed out on the MAC championship after a 30–16 loss to division winners Miami (OH). The Bobcats finished their regular season with a record of 9–3. After the regular season Ohio took a huge transfer hit as Rourke, starting receivers Miles Cross and Ty Walton, their top two backs Sieh Bangura and O'Shaan Allison, and middle linebacker Keye Thompson all entered the transfer portal.[16][17][18]

Game summary

2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl
Period 1 2 34Total
Georgia Southern 0 0 14721
Ohio 3 17 14741

at Brooks Stadium • Conway, South Carolina

  • Date: Saturday, December 16, 2023
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. EST
  • Game weather: Mostly cloudy • Temperature: 63 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 8,059
  • Referee: Patrick Foy
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Drew Carter (play-by-play), Dustin Fox (analyst), and Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
  • Box score
Game information
First Quarter
  • (06:27) OHIO – Gianni Spetic 27-yard FG 11 plays, 43 yards, TOP 06:42 (OHIO 3–0)
Second Quarter
  • (12:22) OHIO – Ricky Hunt 2-yard run (Gianni Spetic kick) 13 plays, 59 yards, TOP 07:13 (OHIO 10–0)
  • (03:16) OHIO – Ricky Hunt 18-yard pass from Parker Navarro (Gianni Spetic kick) 4 plays, 62 yards, TOP 01:53 (OHIO 10–0)
  • (00:00) OHIO – Gianni Spetic 26-yard FG 6 plays, 25 yards, TOP 01:07 (OHIO 20–0)
Third Quarter
  • (11:46) OHIO – Ricky Hunt 6-yard run (Gianni Spetic kick) 1 play, 6 yards, TOP 00:05 (OHIO 27–0)
  • (07:54) GASO – David Mbadinga 3-yard run (Michael Lantz kick) 9 plays, 69 yards, TOP 03:52 (OHIO 27–7)
  • (11:46) OHIO – Ricky Hunt 40-yard run (Gianni Spetic kick) 6 plays, 60 yards, TOP 03:19 (OHIO 34–7)
  • (01:13) GASO – Derwin Burgess Jr. 65-yard pass from Davis Brin (Michael Lantz kick) 2 plays, 68 yards, TOP 00:51 (OHIO 34–14)
Fourth Quarter
  • (12:27) GASO – Jjay Mcafee 15-yard pass from Davis Brin (Michael Lantz kick) 7 plays, 52 yards, TOP 03:46 (OHIO 34–21)
  • (02:52) OHIO – Ricky Hunt 9-yard run (Gianni Spetic kick) 8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 03:40 (OHIO 41–21)

Statistics

References

  1. ↑ @OhioFootball (December 16, 2023). "MVP RICKEYYYYYY !!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 16, 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. ↑ Parks, James (December 11, 2023). "College football bowl schedule, game odds, point spreads for 2023-24". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  3. ↑ @WPDEABC15 (December 16, 2023). "IT'S GAME TIME 🏈 The 2023 Myrtle Beach Bowl is underway as Georgia Southern takes on Ohio university on the Teal Turf! Check out this picture ahead of the game as singer, Greg Rowles, and Festive Brass, prepared to perform the National Anthem at today's game 📸 Brandee Rowles" (Tweet). Retrieved December 16, 2023 – via Twitter.
  4. ↑ Austro, Ben (December 3, 2023). "2023-24 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  5. ↑ "2023 Bahamas Bowl to Be played at 49ers' Jerry Richardson Stadium". Charlotte49ers.com. October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ @OhioFootball (December 16, 2023). "MVP RICKEYYYYYY !!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 16, 2023 – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ Weiderhaft, Sam (December 16, 2023). "Newa". myrtlebeachbowlgame.com. Myrtle Beach Bowl. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  8. ↑ Machlin, Tzvi (December 16, 2023). "Freshman Running Back Rickey Hunt Tied NCAA Bowl Record This Saturday". msn.com. The Spun. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Reserves Hunt, Navarro lead Ohio to 41-21 victory over Georgia Southern in Myrtle Beach Bowl". foxsports.com. AP. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  10. ↑ "GA SOUTHERN 21 OHIO 41". foxsports.com. Fox Sports. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  11. ↑ "GASO 21 OHIO 41 - Boxscore". espn.com. ESPN. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ "GASO 21 OHIO 41 - Team Stats". espn.com. ESPN. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ "GAS 21 OHIO 41 - Boxscore". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  14. ↑ "GAS 21 OHIO 41 - Recap". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Winsipedia - Georgia Southern Eagles vs. Ohio Bobcats". Winsipedia. Retrieved December 3, 2023.
  16. ↑ Keegan III, Robert (December 8, 2023). "Football: Quarterback Kurtis Rourke enters NCAA Transfer Portal". thepostathens.com. Ohio University Post. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  17. ↑ Gorbett, Bobby (December 8, 2023). "Football: Sieh Bangura, O'Shaan Allison, Tyler Walton enter transfer portal". thepostathens.com. Ohio University Post. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  18. ↑ Thompson, Stephen (December 8, 2023). "Pitt Offers Former Ohio WR". si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
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