Gamecocks Get First Bowl Win : Carquest: Taneyhill leads South Carolina past West Virginia, 24-21.

MIAMI —  South Carolina waited six decades for a victory like this. And first-year Gamecock Coach Brad Scott delivered it.

South Carolina, 0-8 in previous postseason appearances, finally won its first bowl game Monday, defeating West Virginia, 24-21, in the Carquest Bowl.

Steve Taneyhill, who completed 62.9% of his passes during the regular season, completed 26 of 36 for 227 yards, including a two-yard touchdown pass to tight end Boomer Foster. He also had a four-yard touchdown run that gave the Gamecocks (7-5) a 17-7 halftime lead.

“That was definitely the most fun I’ve ever had out there because of the fact that our name’s going to go down in Carolina history,” said Taneyhill, named the game’s most valuable player.

West Virginia (7-6), after getting within 24-21, twice gave the up the ball on downs in the final six minutes as it lost a bowl game for the fifth consecutive time. The Mountaineers gave up two fumbles and an interception that led to 14 points for South Carolina, including a one-yard touchdown burst by Stanley Pritchett that put the Gamecocks up, 24-14, with 2:40 left in the third quarter.

“I think this game was important to us, but I think this game meant the world to South Carolina,” West Virginia cornerback Mike Logan said.

Ben Washington, a freshman defensive back who hadn’t intercepted a pass all season, came up with a big one Monday. West Virginia had driven for one third-quarter touchdown and was en route to what would have been the go-ahead score when Washington grabbed a tipped pass and returned it 42 yards to the West Virginia 49.

From there, South Carolina drove for Pritchett’s touchdown run.

“There were so many quick changes out there that it was tough to keep track of things,” said Scott, who came to South Carolina from Florida State, where he was the offensive coordinator. “But I thought the interception by Ben was the key--Ben getting the pick, being able to run it back and then us converting the score.”

West Virginia running back Robert Walker agreed.

“It was a great runback,” Walker said. “When I turned around he was halfway down the field, dipping and moving. It kind of took the air out of us.”

Said Scott, reflecting on the season: “There were a lot of times that we could have folded the tent. Even today, things got a little tough in the second half. Our team got together, especially our defense. They made some awfully big plays at some important times.”

South Carolina made it to postseason play for the first time in six seasons.