South Carolina holds off Miami in Independence Bowl
SHREVEPORT, La. — South Carolina did something that has been difficult for it throughout the 2014 football season.
It won a football game in which it had to fight to maintain a second-half lead.
Quarterback Dylan Thompson scored on a two-yard run to allow the Gamecocks to claim a 24-21 victory over Miami in the Duck Commander Independence Bowl.
The win allowed the team to end the season with a 7-6 record. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has never had a losing season since taking over the Gamecocks' program 10 years ago and only one his college coaching career.
His demeanor following the contest suggested this victory was as important as any he has had as South Carolina's coach.
"This one felt as good as the last three bowl games," said an elated Spurrier. "It has sort of been amazing. We have been the home team in all of them. We got to wear our garnet on garnet and something good keeps happening for us it seems like late in the games there."
The game was big for both Spurrier and his program as there has been a lot of negativity floating around in recent weeks.
Following a Spurrier announcement that he planned to only coach the team for two to three years, six recruits decommitted with at least one admitting the fact that The Head Ball Coach might not be around for his entire stint at the school as a reason.
Spurrier has since amended that statement to say he plans to remain in charge for four to five years.
The has also been a groundswell of support among fans for the removal of several assistant coaches in an attempt to get the program back to the level of the three previous seasons when it posted a 33-6 mark with consecutive 11-2 records that landed the squad in the nation's top 10 at the end of each.
There was some thought Spurrier would make a play for former Florida coach Will Muschamp, considered one of the nation's top defensive coordinators prior to taking over the Gators program.
Spurrier opted to stand pat with his staff, and, while there could be changes coming in the future, he doesn't appear to be in any hurry to do so.
Right before the team traveled to Shreveport on Dec. 23 to prepare for the game it learned that former South Carolina Mr. Football Shaq Roland had quit the team.
While statistically the defense did not have a great day against the Hurricanes, it managed to play well enough to make up for an up and down offense that played winning football for just a little more than a quarter.
The Gamecocks forced two Miami turnovers in the second, a Gerald Dixon recovery of a Duke Johnson fumble leading to the game-winning touchdown.
The Gamecocks picked up two sacks, which doesn't seem like a great number. But for one of the worst teams nationally in that department, it was a step forward as it managed only 12 during the regular season.
The team managed that despite not having the services of senior defensive tackle J. T. Surratt, who was hospitalized Thursday with stomach problems, and end David Johnson, who missed the game with an injury.
"If felt great," said South Carolina linebacker Skai Moore, who was named defensive player of the game after leading the team in tackles with 11 and being credited with a half of a tackle for loss. "We won the game and showed the country that we are a good defense."
The Gamecocks allowed 422 yards of total offense, including 132 yards rushing by junior tailback Johnson.
It held the explosive Hurricanes' offense to two touchdowns, however, which allowed the South Carolina offense to do just enough to win the game.
"I think we showed we could stop them," said embattled South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward. "When we played assignment football we were pretty good."
Despite an up-and-down game, Thompson went out with a solid performance at quarterback.
He not only completed 22-of-34 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns, but scored the winning touchdown from two yards out with his feet.
His biggest target through the air was wide receiver Pharoh Cooper. The sophomore caught nine passes for 170 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown reception.
That was good enough to earn Cooper offensive most valuable player honors.
Thompson leaves South Carolina with the most single season passing yards and is second in touchdown passes in a season with 26.
"We really wanted to go out with a big win against an elite program," said Thompson. "Miami gets a lot of recognition. They are a good team. For our guys to play together and get this win was pretty special."
The victory was South Carolina's fourth straight in bowl games. Spurrier pointed out that each came against programs that have rich histories — Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Miami.
The 69-year old coach still hopes to accomplish things in Columbia that will lead to the Gamecocks becoming a program that sustains year-in and year-out.
There will probably be more twists and turns for the program in the coming weeks. But for at least one night Spurrier will sleep well as a difficult season ended on a positive note.
Willie T. Smith III writes for The Greenville (S.C.) News, a Gannett affiliate.
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