COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Mason Zandi was grateful his South Carolina teammates dug when it wouldve been easy to give in. The result has the Gamecocks back in the postseason after missing out last season.The Gamecocks (6-5) won for the fourth time in the past five games to become bowl eligible with a 44-31 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday night. Zandi always believed, even with his team at 2-4 and facing several big challenges, South Carolina would succeed.We came together as a team. Nobody points fingers at each other. Nobody says, `Oh, woe is me, Zandi, the left tackle, said. Im incredibly proud to play next to these people.And Zandi, a fifth-year senior, will have one additional game to savor.Deebo Samuel scored three touchdowns, including a 100-yard kickoff return, while Rico Dowdle ran for 226 yards and two scores in South Carolinas win.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.This is a huge relief for us, 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, first-year South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said . It was really important with where we were after our first games.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.Dowdles total yards were the most since Gamecocks great Marcus Lattimore gained 246 in a win over Navy in 2011.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 TAKEAWAYDespite an early flourish, Western Carolina was overrun by its quicker, stronger FBS opponent. But the FCS school, which received $400,000 to come to South Carolina, has several FBS teams on upcoming schedules. Next year, the Catamounts play Hawaii and North Carolina. In 2018, its the Tar Heels again before facing North Carolina State in 2019.South Carolina is still getting its feet wet under new coach Will 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 the coach wanted his team to qualify for the bowl -- the extra weeks of prep, planning, film study and practice the postseason gives his building program.FCS BACKERWestern Carolina coach Mark Speir said he hears all the time that SEC teams should not take on FCS teams like the Catamounts. This was a great game, said Speir, whose team scored more points on the Gamecocks than any other this season. I think the fans had a great time. Thirty-three of our players got a scholarship to come to Western Carolina because South Carolina gave us the opportunity to come down here and play.SAMUELS SWEEPReceiver 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 has been 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.Cheap Shoes China Wholesale . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. Cheap Shoes China Free Shipping . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. http://www.wholesaleshoes.us.org/ . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. Shoes Wholesale China Market . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Replica Shoes Wholesale China . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night.India and Iran wont merely be vying for the title of world champion on Saturday; the final will also be the culmination of a tussle over the sports origins.Conventional wisdom in India has it that the sport was born here in ancient times. Its roots can be found in the epics - in Nation at Play, Ronojoy Sen suggests it goes back to the Vedic age - and is said to have been invented by the Aayars or the Yadavas. Its known by different names in different parts of India - ha-du-du, hu-tu-tu - and is one of the first games any Indian child learns.Enter Iranian captain Meraj Sheykh, though, and his take: Kabaddi originated in his hometown, Sistan, 5,000 years ago. My hometown, Sistan, was where it was first found. Several ancient books spoke about it too. We were the original founders of the game, not India, he said.Sheykh later pointed to Shahr-E-Sukteh, an archaeological site located in Irans Sistan and Baluchestan province, as the birthplace of the game.Though Sheykh believes that Iran has history on its side, he acknowledges the Indian role. India has popularized the game and has increased its outreach. The kind of interest the authorities have been taking in the sport is commendable and it woould only help in the growth of the game that I love, he said.ddddddddddddIndia and Iran have been two of the most successful teams so far in international kabaddi. India have dominated the game ever since the first Asian Kabaddi Championship in 1980, which they won. Iran debuted at the 2004 World Cup and have since been Indias closest competitors, facing them in the finals of the previous two editions of the cup.At this tournament, Iran have won four games and lost one so far - the same as India. Another loss would mean the end of their campaign, but Sheykh is content with the way his team has grown. For Iranian players, a lot of focus is put on training. We probably practice even more than India does. This is our game and we are more determined, he said.Sheykh began playing kabaddi at the age of 12 and believes that he shares a lot in common with the Indian team. Like many Indian players, I too started playing the game at a very early age. In fact, the game is very common in my native place. Almost everyone plays it over there. For me, its all I have, he says. ' ' '