Louisiana Tech shuts out Miami in Independence Bowl

SHREVEPORT, La. — That “bridge to 2020,” to which Miami Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz referred heading into the Independence Bowl, hopefully, for the Hurricanes’ sake, has been obliterated and is under construction.

Diaz thought the Hurricanes had “one more really good performance” in them, but reality said the opposite Thursday as the Hurricanes fell 14-0 to Louisiana Tech at Independence StadiMiami in front of 33,129 fans.

Miami’s third consecutive loss marked its first losing season (6-7, 4-4 ACC) since 2014, when the ‘Hurricanes also finished 6-7 with a loss in the same bowl. And it was Miami’s first shutout loss since a 58-0 debacle to Clemson, which precipitated the firing of former coach Al Golden, and only its third shutout loss of the century.

The Hurricanes, who lost for the sixth time this season as the pregame favorite, are 1-9 in their past 10 bowl games, winning only in 2016 in the Russell Athletic Bowl and before that in 2006 in the MPC Computers Bowl.

Since last season, the Hurricanes are 13-13 overall, 8-11 against Power 5 conferences and 5-2 against non-Power 5 schools.

Just before kickoff, the Associated Press reported that “barring a significant change in plans, the Miami Hurricanes and offensive coordinator Dan Enos are expected to part ways after (the) Independence Bowl.” Miami did not respond with a comment.

All three Miami quarterbacks played, beginning with starter Jarren Williams, continuing with one series by Tate Martell and ending with backup N’Kosi Perry.

The Hurricanes are 0-5 in games for which they have had more than a week to prepare: against Florida, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, FIU and Louisiana Tech.

The Bulldogs sealed the victory with an 8-yard touchdown run by quarterback J’Mar Smith with 1 minute, 15 seconds left.

Louisiana Tech scored its lone first-half touchdown at 9:34 of the second quarter on a 26-yard screen pass from J’Mar Smith to Israel Tucker, who was uncovered and sprinted down the left sideline into the end zone.

After one half, the Bulldogs led Miami, 7-0 ,and the Hurricanes had 135 total yards — 82 passing and 53 rushing. And that was with Miami possessing the ball nearly five minutes more than Louisiana Tech.

The most intriguing part of the first half was when redshirt sophomore Tate Martell, who transferred to Miami last January from Ohio State, got his first chance all season at quarterback. But alas, the drive went 7 yards in six plays, though Martell did complete his first and only career pass: 7 yards to K.J. Osborn.

Early in the fourth quarter, Miami’s Gilbert Frierson picked off Bulldogs quarterback J’Mar Smith, then ran 34 yards to the Louisiana Tech 45-yard line. Frierson’s subsequent would-be lateral to Te’Cory Couch was ruled an illegal forward pass. So instead of starting the drive at the La Tech 29, Miami, behind quarterback substitute N’Kosi Perry, began the drive at midfield with 12:15 left in the game.

But the Perry-led Hurricanes could only get as far as the La Tech 39, Miami’s Lou Hedley was forced to punt and the Bulldogs took over at their own 10-yard line with 9:03 left.