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South Carolina secures another winning season with 24-21 win against Miami in Independence Bowl

Graham Watson
Dec 27, 2014; Shreveport, LA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Dylan Thompson (17) celebrates with wide receiver Damiere Byrd (1) after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2014 Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. South Carolina defeated Miami 24-21. (Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports)
Dec 27, 2014; Shreveport, LA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback Dylan Thompson (17) celebrates with wide receiver Damiere Byrd (1) after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2014 Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. South Carolina defeated Miami 24-21. (Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports)

South Carolina managed to salvage a winning campaign out of an otherwise dismal season with a 24-21 win against Miami in the Independence Bowl.

The Gamecocks now have had seven consecutive winning seasons and three consecutive bowl wins.

After falling behind 6-0 early in second quarter, South Carolina responded with 17 points and never looked back. The South Carolina defense, which has struggled most of the season, forced two turnovers, including a key fumble in the fourth quarter that the Gamecocks’ offense turned into the game-sealing touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

That Duke Johnson fumble, which was recovered by Gerald Dixon, gave the Gamecocks the ball on the Miami 29-yard line. South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson found Pharoh Cooper who made a spectacular 25-yard catch and Thompson ran the ball in from the 2-yard line on the next play.

The score gave South Carolina a 24-14 lead, and even though Miami responded with a touchdown, it wasn’t enough.

Cooper finished the game with nine catches for 170 yards and a touchdown. It was his second-highest single-game yardage total of the season.

Miami found some success with it running game, but South Carolina clamped down in the second half. Johnson finished the game with 132 yards rushing and five catches for 51 yards, but that turnover essentially cost his team the game.

Miami finishes with a 6-7 record, the worst campaign of coach Al Golden’s tenure. Even though Johnson declared the bowl his last game, the Hurricanes do return a lot of young talent from this squad, including quarterback Brad Kaaya, who finished with 236 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

For more Miami news, visit CaneSport.com.

For more South Carolina news, visit GamecockCentral.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter!

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