Doughty leads W. Kentucky win

Associated Press

MIAMI

Brandon Doughty’s final game at Western Kentucky perfectly epitomized his career with the Hilltoppers, with a slow start followed by a record-setting finish.

Doughty threw 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), the 14th time in FBS history that a quarterback has reached the 5,000 mark.

His six-year career at the school — it took him three to become the starter — ended with these numbers: 1,023 completions, 12,855 yards and 111 touchdowns.

“It’s been a heck of a run,” Doughty said just before hoisting the bowl trophy.

He was probably even better than Willie Taggart thought he would be when he signed him in 2010. Taggart was Doughty’s coach for his first game and the opposing coach for his last, and his Bulls (8-5) nearly stole the show from Doughty with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns that got them to 38-35.

But Anthony Wales’ second touchdown of the day, a 42-yard scamper with 5:05 left, helped seal it for the Hilltoppers. Nicholas Norris hauled in touchdown passes of 69 and 55 yards in the third quarter for Western Kentucky, and Jared Dangerfield made a highlight-caliber 26-yard TD catch over three defenders to cap a 28-point third quarter for the Hilltoppers.

“Brandon is a great quarterback,” Taggart said. “Not only did he do it against us, he did it against everybody.”

Quinton Flowers rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another for USF (8-5), finishing with 273 yards passing and 108 more on the ground. Marlon Mack rushed for another 108 for the Bulls.