Miami entered the game with the nation’s worst third-down conversion percentage, and going 5 for 14 on Thursday won’t help that much. Smith completed 13 of 28 passes for 163 yards with one interception.

Smith added an 8-yard scoring run with 1:15 left.īulldogs running back Justin Henderson was selected the Most Outstanding Offensive Player after rushing for 95 yards on 22 carries. Smith connected with Israel Tucker on a 26-yard touchdown strike on a screen pass in the second quarter, capping a 13-play, 91-yard drive. “Our inability to sustain drives on offense gave us no chance to win this football game.” I’m certainly proud of the way we played defensively - they had their backs against the wall all night,” Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz said. “I can’t fault the efforts of our players. The Hurricanes have lost nine of 10 bowl games.Īccording to Stats Inc., the Bulldogs became the first Group of 5 program to shut out a Power 5 school in a bowl game since the beginning of the BCS/College Football Playoff era in 1998. Miami (6-7) completed its second losing season in 12 years. “To have the 10-win season and to beat a Power 5 team in a bowl game, I can’t put into words my feelings and my emotions for what these players have accomplished,” coach Skip Holtz said. Louisiana Tech (10-3) reached double-digit victories for the first time since 1984 and ran its postseason winning streak to six - the longest current streak in the country. The Hurricanes totaled only 227 yards of offense.Miami is the first Power 5 team to get shutout in a bowl game by a Group of 5 team since 1998.Miami finished with its second losing season in 12 years with the loss.J’Mar Smith threw a touchdown pass and had a late scoring run to help Louisiana Tech beat Miami 14-0 on Thursday night in the only shutout in the Independence Bowl’s 44-game history.

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