MIAMI (AP) — Brandon Doughty capped his career by throwing for 461 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 25 Western Kentucky overcame an early 14-point deficit to beat South Florida 45-35 in the Miami Beach Bowl on Monday.
Doughty finished the season with 5,055 yards for the Hilltoppers (12-2), posting the 14th season of 5,000 or more in FBS history.
Anthony Wales rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns, including a 42-yarder with 5:05 left to help Western Kentucky finish the year on a six-game winning streak.
Quinton Flowers rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another for USF (8-5), which was in a bowl for the first time since 2010. It was still a turnaround season for the Bulls, who rewarded coach Willie Taggart with a three-year contract extension through 2020 earlier Monday.
Taggart signed Doughty to Western Kentucky. He coached his first game, and was the opposing coach in his last.