2019 Independence Bowl

The 2019 Independence Bowl was a college football bowl game played on December 26, 2019, with kickoff at 4:00 p.m. EST (3:00 p.m. local CST) on ESPN.[5] It was the 44th edition of the Independence Bowl, and one of the 2019–20 bowl games concluding the 2019 FBS football season. Sponsored by Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar, the game was officially known as the Walk-On's Independence Bowl.

2019 Walk-On's Independence Bowl
44th Independence Bowl
1234 Total
Louisiana Tech 0707 14
Miami 0000 0
DateDecember 26, 2019
Season2019
StadiumIndependence Stadium
LocationShreveport, Louisiana
MVPJustin Henderson (RB, Louisiana Tech) & Connor Taylor (LB, Louisiana Tech)[1]
FavoriteMiami by 7[2]
RefereeScott Campbell (Big 12)[3]
Attendance33,129
PayoutUS$2,200,000[4]
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersWes Durham (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Eric Wood (sideline)
International TV coverage
NetworkESPN Brasil
AnnouncersMatheus Suman (play-by-play)
Weinny Eirado (analyst)
Independence Bowl
 < 2018  2021

Teams

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Miami (left in orange jerseys) and Louisiana Tech line up before a snap in the 2019 Independence Bowl, December 2019

The bowl featured the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs of Conference USA (C-USA) against the Miami Hurricanes of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). It was the fifth meeting between the two programs and their first meeting in a bowl game; Miami had won each of their previous four meetings.[6]

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

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Louisiana Tech entered the bowl with a 9–3 record (6–2 in conference). They were co-champions of the West Division of C-USA; UAB advanced to the C-USA Championship Game due to their regular season win over the Bulldogs. This was Louisiana Tech's fifth Independence Bowl, tying them with Ole Miss for the most appearances in the game. The Bulldogs had a record of 2–1–1 in prior editions of the bowl, most recently with their 2008 team winning that season's Independence Bowl over Northern Illinois, 17–10.

Miami Hurricanes

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Miami entered the bowl at 6–6 (4–4 in conference). They finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Coastal Division of the ACC. The Hurricanes started their regular season with two losses, won six of their next eight games, and then finished with two losses. The 2014 Hurricanes appeared in that season's Independence Bowl, losing to South Carolina, 24–21.

Miami was missing several key players for the game, three due to injury and four due to NFL draft considerations.[7]

Game summary

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2019 Walk-On's Independence Bowl
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Louisiana Tech 0 7 0714
Miami 0 0 000

at Independence StadiumShreveport, Louisiana

  • Date: Thursday, December 26, 2019
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST (3:00 p.m. CST)
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy • Temperature: 71 °F (22 °C) • Wind: SE 2 mph
  • Game attendance: 33,129
  • Referee: Scott Campbell
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Wes Durham (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst) and Eric Wood (sideline)
  • ESPN game summary
Game information
First Quarter
No scoring
Second Quarter
  • (9:34) LT – J'Mar Smith 26-yard pass to Israel Tucker, Bailey Hale kick (Drive: 13 plays, 91 yards, 5:18; Louisiana Tech 7–0)
Third Quarter
No scoring
Fourth Quarter
  • (1:15) LT – J'Mar Smith 8 yard rush, Bailey Hale kick (Drive: 5 plays, 56 yards, 2:07; Louisiana Tech 14–0)

The Bulldogs' win made them the first Group of Five team to shut out a Power Five team in a bowl game in either the Bowl Championship Series (19982013) or College Football Playoff (2014–present) era.[8]

Statistics

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Statistics LT MIA
First downs 18 15
Plays–yards 68–337 62–227
Rushes–yards 40–174 28–74
Passing yards 163 153
Passing: compattint 13–28–1 15–34–2
Time of possession 31:26 28:34
Team Category Player Statistics
Louisiana Tech Passing J'Mar Smith 13/28, 163 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Justin Henderson 22 carries, 95 yards
Receiving Malik Stanley 3 receptions, 75 yards
Miami Passing Jarren Williams 9/20, 94 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Cam'Ron Harris 12 carries, 31 yards
Receiving K. J. Osborn 5 receptions, 56 yards

References

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  1. ^ Spearman, Tanner (December 26, 2019). "Louisiana Tech Blanks Miami in Independence Bowl". underdogdynasty.com. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  2. ^ "Louisiana Tech vs. Miami - Game Summary - December 26, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
  3. ^ "2019-20 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "2019 Bowl Schedule". collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  5. ^ "2019-20 college football bowl schedule, games, dates, times, TV channels". CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  6. ^ "Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Miami (FL) Hurricanes football series history". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  7. ^ "Louisiana Tech blanks Miami in Independence Bowl". reuters.com. Field Level Media. December 26, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  8. ^ "Louisiana Tech beats Miami 14-0 in Independence Bowl". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 26, 2019. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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