Dec 21, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Western Kentucky Hilltoppers quarterback Brandon Doughty (12) throws a pass against South Florida Bulls during the second half in the 2015 Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
MIAMI – Quarterback Brandon Doughty passed for 461 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 25 Western Kentucky past South Florida 45-35 on Monday afternoon in the second annual Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park.
Western Kentucky (12-2) finished its season on a six-game winning streak. The Hilltoppers tied a school record with 12 wins, playing in bowl games in consecutive years for the first time in school history.
The Hilltoppers overcame a 14-0 deficit and ended a four-game winning streak by South Florida (8-5), which played its first bowl game since 2010.
South Florida was led by quarterback Quinton Flowers, who ran for two touchdowns and passed for one. USF wide receiver Rodney Adams scored twice – on a 34-yard end around and a 53-yard catch.
Bulls kicker Emilio Nadelman, who played locally at Miami Central High, had made nine straight field goals entering the game. But he missed a 43-yard field goal in the third quarter. He also missed a 53-yarder with 5:58 left in the fourth that would have tied the score at 38.
Doughty, one of just 16 FBS quarterbacks to throw for more than 12,000 career yards and 100 touchdowns, completed 32 of 45 passes. He threw touchdown passes of 69 and 55 yards to wide receiver Nicholas Norris. He also threw a 26-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Jared Dangerfield.
Because of Doughty’s big-strike ability, Western Kentucky had a 39-second scoring drive, a 38-second scoring drive and another one – on the pass to Dangerfield – that lasted just six seconds.
The Bulls also struck quickly with a two-play, 12-second drive – the payoff was Flowers’ 53-yard pass to Adams.
The Hilltoppers got two touchdown runs from running back Anthony Wales. He scored on a 13-yard run in the second quarter, letting go of the ball just as he reached the right pylon but the call stood after a video review.
Western Kentucky tied a season-high with a 28-point third quarter, building a 31-21 lead.
But the Bulls battled back and closed their deficit to 38-35. That’s when Western Kentucky put the game away on Wales’ 42-yard touchdown run – he again hit the right pylon on the same side of the field – with 5:02 left in the fourth quarter.
NOTES: Attendance was 21,712. … The coin toss was administered by former Miami Hurricanes coach Howard Schnellenberger. Marlins Park was built on the site where the Orange Bowl used to stand, and that was the stadium where Schnellenberger led the Hurricanes to their first national title (1983). … This was a homecoming for both starting quarterbacks. South Florida’s Quinton Flowers played at Miami Jackson High, and Western Kentucky’s Brandon Doughty played at North Broward Prep. … Doughty was Conference USA’s Most Valuable Player. He was first in the FBS in completion percentage (71.8) and touchdowns (45) and second in yards (4,594). … Flowers completed 61.1 percent for 2,023 yards and 21 TDs. He also ran for 883 yards and 10 TDs. … South Florida coach Willie Taggart is an ex-Western Kentucky quarterback and head coach. … Taggart recruited Doughty to WKU and then got Flowers to USF.
