South Alabama vs. Bowling Green: Score, Twitter Reaction for 2014 Camellia Bowl

The Bowling Green Falcons narrowly escaped a loss that would have stuck with them for a long time.

On Saturday night in the inaugural Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama, the Falcons needed a miracle 78-yard pass play from James Knapke to Roger Lewis to pull out a 33-28 win over the South Alabama Jaguars. Photojournalist Mickey Welsh captured the heartbreaking/exhilirating score.

Bowling Green jumped all over South Alabama early and held a 20-7 lead at the half. The Falcons' offense was stifled for most of the second half, though. It only managed to score seven points for the first 28-plus minutes after the break.

South Alabama clawed its way back in behind two touchdown passes from Brandon Bridge.

With the score 27-21 in Bowling Green's favor, and the ball on South Alabama's 1-yard line, the Falcons went for an 18-yard field goal that would have made it a two-score game.

Only problem is, Bowling Green kicker Tyler Tate missed the chip shot. His teammates picked him up.

For most of the fourth quarter, the Falcons defense stiffened and forced punts on consecutive possessions. However, Knapke and the offense couldn't score the clincher—yet.

With 1:20 left, Terrance Timmons scored from three yards out and gave South Alabama the 28-27 lead. the Alabama crowd was ecstatic and the Falcons sideline was in shock. They didn't hang their heads long, though.

On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, Knapke would hit Lewis for what proved to be the decisive score and the Falcons escaped with one of the wildest wins you'll see. It was a brain cramp of epic proportions by the Jaguars secondary and a totally busted coverage.

Ben Bolton of WAKA and WNCF in Alabama offered his bird's-eye view of the miracle play.

Jordan Strack of WTOL asked a rhetorical question:

While the huge play at the end will get most of the shine in recaps, the biggest reason South Alabama lost was turnovers. The Jaguars gave the ball away four times, and that helped give extra opportunities to Knapke and the Falcons.

On the day, Knapke threw for 368 yards and two scores. The performance earned him game MVP honors, per CFB Bowl Season.

Lewis caught four passes for 137 yards and both of Knapke's touchdowns. Gehrig Dieter had seven catches for 108 yards.

The Jaguars needed this win to finish above .500. With the loss, they complete the 2014 season with a record of 6-7. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Bowling Green and it finished 8-6. While South Alabama truly didn't play well enough to deserve the win, it still smarts to have had the game in its clutches only to lose on a blown coverage.

This win gives the Falcons program some much-needed momentum heading into recruiting season. It hopes to build on the spectacular finish and take another step toward more respectability in 2015.