Louisiana Tech beats Miami in the Independence Bowl
SHREVEPORT, La. — 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.
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.
“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.
Miami (6-7) completed its second losing season in 12 years. The Hurricanes have lost nine of 10 bowl games.
According 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.
“I can't fault the efforts of our players. I'm certainly proud of the way we played defensively — they had their backs against the wall all night,” Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz said. “Our inability to sustain drives on offense gave us no chance to win this football game.”
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. Smith added an 8-yard scoring run with 1:15 left.
Bulldogs running back Justin Henderson was selected the Most Outstanding Offensive Player after rushing for 95 yards on 22 carries. Smith completed 13 of 28 passes for 163 yards with one interception.
The Hurricanes finished the year with three straight losses and averaging only 25.7 points per game.
It raises more questions about the future of offensive coordinator Dan Enos, whose lone season
with the Hurricanes saw the offense perform well below expectations.
Penn State hires new offensive coordinator
Penn State has hired Kirk Ciarrocca as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, after he held the same role for Big Ten foe Minnesota for the past three seasons. Ciarrocca replaces Ricky Rahne, who was named head coach at OId Dominion earlier this month. Penn State head coach James Franklin, whose team plays
Memphis in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, made the announcement on Thursday.
Franklin said he wanted an established play-caller, and also believes strongly in “hiring people that want to be here, and Kirk really wanted to be here. ... He's fired up about being here." Ciarrocca has been an offensive coordinator for 18 seasons. He also has had stints on the staffs at Temple, Delaware Valley, Western Connecticut State, Princeton, Penn, Delaware, Rutgers and Richmond.