Gamecocks Get 24-21 Win Over Miami

The South Carolina Gamecocks held off a late rally by the Miami Hurricanes to win the Duck Commander Independence Bowl 24-21. The Miami Hurricanes scored first in the second half. Following a 48-yard reception from Malcom Lewis, Gus Edwards punched it in from three yards out to pull within three of South Carolina after a successful two-point conversion. The Gamecocks would recover a Duke Johnson fumble mid-way through the fourth quarter that would result in a three play, 29-yard scoring drive capped off by a two-yard touchdown scramble from Dylan Thompson. Phillip Dorsett would haul in a 11-yard pass to pull Miami within three, but the Gamecock offense would run down the final two minutes. The Gamecocks finish the season 7-6 and win their fourth straight bowl appearance. Bowl offensive MVP Pharoh Cooper finished the game with 9 catches for 170 yards and one touchdown. Miami would get on the board first behind strong running early on from Duke Johnson who carried the ball three times for 46 yards on Miami’s opening drive. Michael Badgely would knock in a 27-yard field goal to give the Hurricanes the early lead, and would add a 26-yard field goal at the start of the second quarter. Pharoh Cooper helped grab the lead for the Gamecocks with a 78-yard touchdown reception to put South Carolina up by one with 7:50 to go in the second quarter. Thompson would later find Mike Davis on a 15-yard touchdown pass to put the Gamecocks up by eight. Elliot Fry would later tack on a field goal with a 1:39 to give the Gamecocks a 17-6 lead going into halftime.