COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Deebo Samuel scored three touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return, Rico Dowdle ran for 226 yards and South Carolina became eligible for a bowl in coach Will Muschamps first year with a 44-31 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday night.Samuel, the sophomore receiver, made his mark in the running game with a pair of 2-yard TD runs and with his dazzling return on a first-quarter kickoff as the Gamecocks (6-5) doubled their win total from a year ago -- and won for the fourth time in their past five games.This is a huge relief for us, left tackle Mason Zandi said. Its even bigger for the program moving forward.The Catamounts (2-9) of the FCS Southern Conference kept denting the Gamecocks defense and were within 41-31 after Detrez Newsomes 93-yard kickoff return touchdown with 9:13 to go.But South Carolina was able to hold on and avoid the embarrassment of a second straight FCS defeat after falling to Citadel 23-22 in their 3-9 season last fall.At the end of the day, we needed to get to a bowl game, Muschamp said. It was really important with where we were after our first games.The Gamecocks were 2-4 headed into their bye week. Since, theyve won four of five games with only rival and fifth-ranked Clemson left in the regular season.Freshman tailback Dowdle had a 43-yard touchdown run on South Carolinas opening series, then a 1-yard TD rush on the teams next series. He has rushed for over 100 yards in three of the past four games.A.J. Turner added 97 yards rushing for South Carolina, which ran for 422 yards, its highest total since gaining 352 yards rushing against Coastal Carolina in 2013.Western Carolina fell to 0-52 against Football Bowl Subdivision teams and 0-19 all-time against Southeastern Conference opponents.THE TAKEAWAYSouth Carolina is still getting its feet wet under Muschamp. Where more advanced SEC teams mightve run from the Catamounts at the start, the young Gamecocks needed some time to get going before securing the win. Thats a big reason coach Will Muschamp wanted his team to qualify for the bowl -- the extra weeks of prep, planning, film study and practice the postseason gives his building program.SAMUELS SWEEPReciever Deebo Samuel has been an effective scorer for South Carolina near the goal line. He had two touchdowns near the goal line, running a patented jet-sweep play. That jet sweep is money for us, Samuel said, smiling.How long did it take Muschamp and the offensive staff to know Samuel could be effective in the red zone? After about the third day of spring practice, Muschamp said.UP NEXTWestern Carolinas season is finished.South Carolina plays at Clemson on Saturday, trying to end a two-game losing streak to its rival. Justin Layne Jersey . Galatasaray said in a statement on its website Monday that Mancini signed a three-year contract and will be paid 3.5 million euros for the upcoming season, with his salary upped to 4. Dermontti Dawson Youth Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.steelersrookiestore.com/Steelers-Ernie-Stautner-Jersey/ .com) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to halt their longest losing streak of the season when they host the struggling New York Islanders in tonights clash at the Bell Centre. Lynn Swann Steelers Jersey . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Antonio Brown Youth Jersey . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. @font-face { font-family: AImpactoRegular; src: url(http://a.espncdn.com/redesign/fonts/AImp...to-Regular.woff) format(woff), url(http://a.espncdn.com/redesign/fonts/AImp...cto-Regular.ttf) format(truetype); } .jumper{ display: none; } h1 { font-size: 38px; line-height: 52px; font-family: aimpactoregular; } h2 { font-size: 18px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 20px; font-family: bentonsansmedium; } .container p { color: #333; font-family: bentonsanslight; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 15px; overflow: visible; margin: 0 auto; } .header { background-color: #fff; border-bottom: 1px solid #000; clear: both; float: left; font-family: AImpactoRegular; font-size: 30px; left: 0; position: relative; width: 100%; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; } .colmask { background-color: #ffffff; clear: both; left: 0; margin: 0 auto; max-width: 1400px; position: relative; width: 90%; padding-bottom: 80px; } .colmask h3{ font-family: bentonsansmedium; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; } .colmask p { font-family: bentonsanslight; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; max-width: 94%; } .byline{ padding-top:10px; } .byline p { font-size: 10px; margin-bottom: 0px; } .colmid{right:20%;float:left;width:100%;position:relative;background-color:#ffffff;} .colin{right:20%;float:left;width:100%;position:relative;background-color:#ffffff;} .colwu{right:20%;float:left;width:100%;position:relative;background-color:#ffffff;} .colleft{right:20%;float:left;width:100%;position:relative;background-color:#ffffff;} .col1{padding-bottom: 30px; width:19%;left:100.5%;overflow:hidden;float:left;position:relative;background-color:#fff;} .col2{padding-bottom: 30px; width:19.25%;left:61.25%;overflow:hidden;float:left;position:relative;background-color:#fff} .col3{padding-bottom: 30px; width:19%;left:82.25%;overflow:hidden;float:left;position:relative;background-color:#fff;} .col4{padding-bottom: 30px; width:19%;left:83.25%;overflow:hidden;float:left;position:relative;background-color:#fff;} .col5{padding-bottom: 30px; width:19.25%;left:84.25%;overflow:hidden;float:left;position:relative;background-color:#fff;} .footer{padding-bottom: 30px; width:100%;left:0%;clear:both;float:lefft;position:relative;border-bottom:#000 1px solid;background-color:#fff;} .dddddddddddd.bottom{clear:both;width:100%;float:left;position:relative;background-color:#cdeb8b}body{border-width:0px;padding:0px;margin:0px;font-size:90%;width:100%;min-width:600px;} .container { background: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) none repeat scroll 0 0 !important; height: 100%; max-width: 100%; width: 100%; padding-left:20px; padding-right: 0; } .morestories{ font-size:12px; line-height:15px; } #main-article { top: -40px; } @media screen and (max-width: 620px){ #cb_header, #cb_holder{ float:none; max-width:450px; margin:0;} } body{min-width:0;} #cb_map_caption{position: relative;} The DepartedLorem IpsumExploring the long tails of franchises to find which incarnations have been lost to history.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus ultricies quis tortor eget finibus. Vestibulum augue ligula, efficitur non dictum at, pellentesque id urna. Cras semper facilisis augue, ac sollicitudin dui sagittis id. Duis euismod consequat convallis.Morbi nulla risus, auctor et maximus vitae, eleifend vitae ex. Maecenas efficitur urna a massa convallis interdum. Sed sed ex nec tortor egestas tincidunt non molestie leo. Phasellus magna augue, dapibus lobortis efficitur sed, porttitor id tortor. Donec ornare, tortor ac volutpat posuere.Source: ESPN Stats and Info; SportsReference.comDesign and research: Andrew Garcia Phillips, Chartball.comRelated CoverageBuffalo BravesThey left in 1978 and became Clippers, but this teacher wont let go.Hartford WhalersThe most popular team that no longer exists? Ask their fervent fans.Minneapolis LakersWhy their 1948 loss to the Globetrotters was landmark event.Montreal ExposYouppi! and Canadiens keep bygone baseball teams spirit alive.Philadelphia/KC AthleticsVagabond As lived colorful past lives before heading to Oakland.Philadelphia WarriorsImage of Wilt Chamberlains 100-point game will never fade.San Diego ClippersWhy Bill Walton takes blame for his hometowns loss.Seattle PilotsFailed season in Seattle largely forgotten beyond Ball Four.St. Louis BrownsLovable losers who became Orioles remembered fondly.Troy TrojansYes, this upstate New York town was once a major league city. ' ' '
