MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Despite program records for passing attempts, completions and yards in a bowl game from sixth-year quarterback Kyle Vantrease, Georgia Southern came up just short in the Camellia Bowl, falling to Buffalo, 23-21. 
 
The Eagles are now 3-2 in five Bowl Season appearances—with four of those appearances coming over the past five seasons. 
 
After a scoreless first quarter, Georgia Southern broke the ice with a 23-yard field goal from redshirt junior kicker Alex Raynor. 
 
Buffalo responded with an 11-play, 81-yard touchdown drive, finishing on a 32-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Cole Snyder to graduate student wide receiver Justin Marshall. 
 
After Raynor connected again—this time from 21 yards out—Buffalo added a second touchdown—a five-yard rush by senior running back Tajay Ahmed—with 45 seconds to play in the half to carry a 14-6 lead into the break. 
 
Momentum shifted on the first offensive play of the third quarter, when Eagles redshirt sophomore defensive back Chase Dial-Watson forced a fumble that was recovered by redshirt junior defensive back Anthony Wilson. 
 
On the first play of the ensuing Georgia Southern possession, Vantrease found freshman wide receiver Joshua Thompson at the Buffalo 37-yard line. Thompson did the rest with his legs for a 79-yard touchdown strike. Vantrease then connected with fifth-year tight end Jjay McAfee on the two-point conversion attempt to knot the game at 14-14. 
 
The Eagles defense held strong in plus territory in the second half, limiting the Bulls to three field goals to keep Georgia Southern within striking distance. 

And strike the Eagles did on their first drive of the fourth quarter, with Vantrease connecting with McAfee again on a 13-yard touchdown pass to pull Georgia Southern within two, 23-21. The touchdown reception capped a 13-play, 90-yard drive for the Eagles offense with 3:38 to play. 
 
Buffalo got two first downs on the final possession, allowing the Bulls to run out the clock in victory formation. 
 
Vantrease completed 28-of-45 passes for 352 yards and two touchdowns in defeat. Redshirt junior tight end Beau Johnson led all Eagles receivers with 118 yards on five catches. 
 
Senior linebacker Khadry Jackson posted a game-high 13 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, to pace the Georgia Southern defensive unit. 

With the loss, Georgia Southern falls to 6-7 on the year.