Louisiana Tech shuts out Miami in Independence Bowl

Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz (white cap) is doused by his players after they won the NCAA college football Independence Bowl against Miami, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La. (Henriette Wildsmith/The Shreveport Times via AP)
Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz (white cap) is doused by his players after they won the NCAA college football Independence Bowl against Miami, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La. (Henriette Wildsmith/The Shreveport Times via AP)

SHREVEPORT, La. - J'Mar Smith threw a touchdown pass and added a late touchdown run as 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 streak of postseason victories to six, the nation's longest active run.

"To have the 10-win season and to beat a Power Five team in a bowl game, I can't put into words my feelings and my emotions for what these players have accomplished," said coach Skip Holtz, whose Bulldogs tied for first in Conference USA's West Division this season.

Miami finished 6-7 - its Atlantic Coast Conference record was 4-4 - to complete its second losing season in 12 years, a stretch in which the Hurricanes have lost nine of their 10 bowl games.

According to Stats Inc., the Bulldogs became the first Group of Five program to shut out a Power Five school in a bowl game since 1998, the beginning of the Bowl Championship Series era that eventually gave way to the current College Football Playoff format in 2014.

photo Louisiana Tech's J'Mar Smith celebrates with teammates after winning the NCAA college football Independence Bowl against Miami, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, La. (Henriette Wildsmith/The Shreveport Times via AP)

"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," first-year 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 strike on a screen pass in the second quarter, capping a 13-play, 91-yard touchdown drive. Smith, who added an 8-yard scoring run with 1:15 left, completed 13 of 28 passes for 163 yards with one interception.

Justin Henderson added 95 rushing yards on 22 carries as the Bulldogs won 70 miles west of their campus in Ruston.

"I'm really proud of the experience," Holtz said. "To have that many fans here when we ran out of the tunnel - to see all the red and blue in the stands was awesome."

Miami went just 5-for-14 on third-down conversions, and the teams set the game record for punts at 18, with both tying the single-club record of nine.

The Hurricanes used three quarterbacks and combined to go 15-of-34 for 153 yards with two interceptions.

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