Top-ranked Rafael Nadal looked more like his confident self on the clay in passing Ivan Dodig of Croatia 6-3, 6-3, to reach the Barcelona Open quarterfinals on Thursday. Taylor Gabriel Bears Jersey . Nadal was struggling with his game coming into the event and an unconvincing opening victory on Wednesday did little to calm the nerves. But Nadal looked more assured as he ousted the 37th-ranked Dodig in 83 minutes in the third round. Nadal moves on to face fellow Spanish player Nicolas Almagro in an early rematch of last seasons final, which Nadal won for his eight title at the tournament in the Catalan capital. Almagro advanced after beating Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3. Dodigs attempts to come forward were met with passing shots from Nadal, who finally broke for 3-2 after coming to the net to force Dodig into netting a return. Dodig broke right back but Nadal had found his rhythm as he forced Dodig into 15 errors in the first set, when he won the last three games for the lead. Nadal maintained his play to start the second set, when he made fewer errors and seemed to grow in confidence to break Dodig for the fourth time as he sealed the win. "Theres still some work to do but I definitely took a step forward from yesterday. I move on feeling more assured," Nadal said. "I needed this game." Earlier, fourth-seeded Kei Nishikori beat Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan 6-0, 6-4. Nishikori had been sidelined by a groin injury since beating Roger Federer four weeks ago. Russian player Teymuraz Gabashvili followed up his win over fifth-ranked David Ferrer with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over another Spaniard, Inigo Cervantes, to reach the quarterfinals. Ernests Gulbis of Latvia, Marin Cilic of Croatia, and Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany all won to advance. Trey Burton Bears Jersey . The Marlies centre set up three goals, including the game-winner, as Toronto cruised to a 4-1 victory over the Oklahoma City Barons in American Hockey League action. Allen Robinson Bears Jersey .C. -- Panthers offensive tackle Jordan Gross is saying goodbye to the NFL after 11 seasons. http://www.bearsauthoritystore.com/Authentic-Cody-Parkey-Bears-Jersey/ . Coach Randy Carlyle didnt know the severity of Bozaks injury. Bozak left the bench and went down the tunnel early in the second period, returned to play a handful of shifts and then did play in the third.Shreveport, LA - Dylan Thompson scored the decisive touchdown on a quarterback keeper after a Duke Johnson fumble, as South Carolina edged Miami-Florida 24-21 in Saturdays Independence Bowl. Thompson threw two touchdown passes while finishing 22-of-34 for 294 yards. Pharoh Cooper had 170 yards and one touchdown on nine receptions for the Gamecocks (7-6), who won a school-record fourth straight bowl game. Johnson rushed 24 times for 132 yards, but the junior suffered an ankle injury and fumbled on what is expected to be his final collegiate carry. Johnsons mother, Cassandra Mitchell, told the Palm Beach Post on Saturday that her son will enter the 2015 NFL Draft. Brad Kaaya was 19-of-33 for 236 yards with a touchdown and one interception for Miami (6-7), which ended the season on a four-game losing streak. The Hurricanes also suffered a school-record fifth consecutive bowl defeat. A 3-yard touchdown run by Gus Edwards and a successful two-point conversion trimmed Miamis deficit to 17-14 with 1:43 to play in the third quarter. South Carolina turned the ball over on downs on the ensuing possession when Brandon Wilds was tackled for a 1-yard loss at the Miami 39 early in the fourth quarter. The Hurricanes then looked to tie the game, but Michael Badgley missed wide left from 51 yards. Johnson fumbled on the second play of the next Hurricanes drive and Gerald Dixon made the recovery at the Miami 29-yard line. After a short run by Mike Davis, Cooper reached around a defender to make a catch at the 2-yard liine, setting up Thompsons TD run with 4:13 to play. Bennie Fowler III Bears Jersey. . Kaaya quickly responded with a 11-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Dorsett, but the Gamecocks forced the Hurricanes to use all three of their timeouts while running out the final 2:16. Miami had success moving the ball to begin the game, reaching the red zone on both of its first two possessions. However, the Hurricanes were forced to settle for a pair of Badgley field goals. The Gamecocks first three drives consisted of two punts and a missed field goal, but they produced points on their next three to go up 17-6. Thompson hit Cooper on a seam route and he raced to the end zone for a 78-yard touchdown. After the Hurricanes went three-and-out, Thompson completed a 35-yard pass to Damiere Byrd on a deep out, setting up a 1st-and-goal. Thompson later rolled to his left on third down to escape pressure and threw back to the right to Davis for a 15-yard touchdown. Elliott Fry kicked a 32-yard field goal following a Kaaya interception with 1:39 left in the second quarter. Fry was short on a 58-yard attempt to conclude the opening half. Game Notes Johnson posted his 14th 100-yard rushing game, tying him with Clinton Portis and Edgerrin James for the most in Miami history ... South Carolina was ranked ninth in the preseason AP poll ... The Gamecocks beat