Louisiana Tech overcomes Miami (Fla) 14-0 for Independence Bowl Title

Photo by
Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Phtotgraphy
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA (December 26, 2019) In a game that saw a record 18 punts, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs shut out the Miami Hurricanes by the score of 14-0 to win the 44th Walk-On's Independence Bowl. The Bulldogs scored midway through the second quarter and late in the fourth. 

The first score came at 9:34 in the second quarter, when quarterback J'Mar Smith (Meridian HS, Meridian, Mississippi) connected with running back Israel Tucker (Archbishop Rummel HS, Metairie, Louisiana) on a 26-yard pass play for the only aerial touchdown of the game. Smith, who threw for 17 touchdowns during the regular season, carried the ball the final eight yards of a 55-yard, five play drive for the second Tech TD. The 6-1, 218-pound red shirt senior completed his final season with four rushing touchdowns. Kicker Bailey Hale (Iowa Park HS, Iowa Park, Texas), shown below, added the two extra points, to push his total to 53 for the season. Red shirt junior running back Justin Henderson (Lake Wales HS, Lake Wales, Florida), shown above, who carried the ball 22 times for 95 yards, was awarded the Offensive Player of the Game.

Photo by
Darla Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Phtotgraphy
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

Defensively, the Bulldogs were paced by inside linebacker Conner Taylor (Davis HS, Kaysville, Utah) and outside linebacker Ezekiel Barnett (Benton HS, Benton, Louisiana). Taylor tallied nine tackles, six of them solo, along with 1.5 sacks and 1.5 tackles for a loss, sharing the stats with defensive end Milton Williams. Barnett added six total tackles (four solo) and one sack and one tackle for a loss. Defensive back Aaron Roberson (Huntington, HS, Shreveport, Louisiana) added five tackles (four solo), two pass breakups, and one game-sealing interception. Taylor, for his performance, was named the Defensive Player of the Game.

For the Hurricanes, quarterback Jarren Williams (Central Gwinnett HS, Lawrenceville, Georgia) was 9-of-20 for 94 yards while freshman Sam Brooks, Jr. (Miami Northwestern HS, Miami Gardens, Florida) posted 12 tackles.

Miami to face Louisiana Tech in 2019 Independence Bowl

SHREVEPORT. LOUISIANA (December 25, 2019) On Thursday, December 26, 2019, the 44th annual Walk-On's Independence Bowl will kick off at 3 p.m. CST at Independence Stadium in Shreveport with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will face the Miami Hurricanes (6-6, 4-4 ACC).

Louisiana Tech (9-3, 6-2 C-USA) makes its fifth appearance in Independence Bowl history, tying Ole Miss for the most appearances in Independence Bowl history. The Bulldogs have a 2-1-1 record in their previous four appearances. La Tech’s last trip came in 2008 vs. Northern Illinois (17-10 La Tech). 

They are making their sixth-consecutive bowl appearance under head coach Skip Holtz. Tech enters the 2019 bowl season as one of only two FBS programs with five consecutive bowl wins (Wisconsin). The Bulldogs are playing in their 12th bowl game in program history, with a record of 7-3-1 in their first 11 bowls. 

The Bulldogs played in the lone tie game in Independence Bowl history, tying Maryland 34-34 in the 1990 Independence Bowl. Miami is making its second-ever appearance in the Independence Bowl, with its last trip being in 2014 versus South Carolina, with South Carolina winning 24-21. 

The 2019 Walk-On’s Independence Bowl is Miami’s seventh-consecutive bowl appearance and 43rd bowl appearance in school history (20-22 record). Their last bowl win came in the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl over West Virginia, 31-14. 

Miami head coach Manny Diaz was the Louisiana Tech defensive coordinator in 2014 under La Tech head coach Skip Holtz. Miami defensive coordinator Blake Baker took over as the Bulldogs’ defensive coordinator following Diaz’s departure to Mississippi State. Baker served as La Tech’s DC from 2015-2018. 

This is the fifth-ever matchup between Louisiana Tech and Miami (Miami is 4-0). Their last game against each other came in 2004, and they previously played in Independence Stadium in a regular season tilt in 2003, with Miami winning 48-9. 

The ACC sports a 6-5-1 record in 12 Independence Bowl appearances and have won each of the last four Independence Bowl’s dating back to Virginia Tech in 2015. 

C-USA holds a record of 0-1 in the I-Bowl. Southern Miss fell to FSU 42-13 in 2017.

2019 Independence Bowl: Miamai (Fla) pre-game press conferennce

SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA (December 24, 2019) Pre-game press conference with Miami (Fla) head coach Manny Diaz, running back K.J. Osborn and linebacker Shaquille Quarterman for the Walk-On's Independence Bowl. Click here for the video.

Last second 3-pointer lifts No. 11 Loyola Chicago over No. 8 Miami (Fla)

Story and Photos by Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved

DALLAS, TEXAS (March 15, 2018) With 3/10 of a second to go in the game, starting forward Donte Ingram connected from three-point range to give No. 11 Loyola Chicago a 62-60 win over No. 8 Miami (Fla.) in the second game of the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. With neither team able to gain an advantage after 20 minutes of play and the score tied at 28, both teams came onto the court for the second half and that told the story of the game.

Both teams shot 50% or better in the first half; (Loyola 52%, Miami 50%), however the difference in the game came down to the second half. Miami led in almost every stat, but the final three-pointer by Ingram made the difference and sent the Ramblers to the second round. Both teams led by seven points at different times in the game; Loyola at the 14:02 mark in the first half and Miami with 15:40 left in the game. Coming down the stretch, the Hurricanes were never behind until Ingram's three-pointer. With nine seconds left in the game, starting guard Ben Richardson rebounded a missed free throw by Miami's Lonnie Walker IV.  After bring the ball down the court, Marquis Townes receive the ball and quickly fed it to Townes for the score. It was Townes second credited assist of the game.

Ramblers' head coach Porter Moser talked with the press after the game and was quoted:

"You know, first of all, God is good. He blessed this group. We give the glory to him. He blessed our University, this group. He blessed me being able to coach resilient kids. The second thing with these young guys, we're in the huddle. Even when we were down seven, it was just about keep fighting, keep fighting. There's no quit in these guys. They believe. They share the ball. We had 19 assists. And a great example is that last pass to Donte with Marques to find it. They made big shots. Clay made a big shot on an action we run in the corner. Very, very blessed that we have kids that do not quit, that are resilient." 

The Rambles had four players in double figures, with Clayton Custer leading the was with 14, Ingram followed with 13, while Aundre Jackson and Cameron Krutwig coming off the bench to contribute 12 and 11, respectively. Miami had four players scoring in double figures, led by Walker IV with 12. Loyola will next face No. 3 Tennessee on Saturday, March 17. The Volunteers downed Wright State 73-47 earlier in the day.