South Carolina hosted Tennessee at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday and won 38-24.
Breaking it Down…1st Quarter…South Carolina received the opening kick and moved the ball down the field. It looked like everything was clicking, but the offense failed to convert in the red zone. Facing second and goal from the three, Marcus Lattimore appeared to score, but the play was called back because of an illegal shift. South Carolina then moved back to the 13 after a false start penalty. Two plays later, Stephen Garcia was intercepted in the end zone to end the threat. Tennessee’s offense came out firing as well. It took them 14 plays to go 58 yards before they settled for a field goal to make the score 3-0. South Carolina’s offense looked efficient moving the ball again until it was stopped in the red zone.
2nd Quarter…The Gamecocks had to settle for a 40 yard Spencer Lanning field goal to tie the score at 3-3. Tennessee quickly moved the ball into Gamecock territory and looked poised to score before Cliff Matthews sacked Matt Simms and forced a fumble that Devin Taylor recovered. On the ensuing 10 play drive Marcus Lattimore rushed 7 times and scored from 1 yard out to make the score 10-3. USC’s defense was again unable to stop the Volunteers. UT covered 70 yards on 9 plays to tie the score at 10. On the ensuing possession, South Carolina picked up two first downs on D.L. Moore receptions, but ultimately had to punt. The Volunteers then ran out the clock to end the half.
3rd Quarter…Tennessee received the second half kick and returned it to the 25. Two plays later Antonio Allen sacked Matt Simms and forced a fumble that Devin Taylor recovered. 6 plays later Stephen Garcia plunged in from the one to make the score 17-10. Tyler Bray came in at quarterback for the Volunteers. On his first pass, he didn’t see Devin Taylor drop into the flat and threw an interception. Taylor returned it 24 yards for the touchdown to make the score 24-10. Tennessee held the ball for 9 plays on its next possession before being forced to punt. USC appeared to be in control, but was unable to pick up a first down and had to punt. Tennessee got the ball back and was unable to pick up a first down on their first three downs, but they did get a first down when they successfully faked a punt. In fact, they gained 25 yards. On the next play Tyler Bray hit Denarius Moore for the TD from 30 yards out to cut the lead to 24-17. The Gamecocks moved the ball on their next offensive series, but missed a 41 yard field goal.
4th Quarter…South Carolina’s pass defense was completely unable to stop the Volunteers as they covered 77 yards on 5 plays to make it 24 all. On the next drive Alshon Jeffrey took matters into his own hands and turned a routine curl route into a 70 yard touchdown pass. USC then lead 31-24. Tennessee picked up two first downs and had to punt. The punt careened off a SC defender but was recovered by the Gamecocks. On the ensuing 92 yard touchdown drive Marcus Lattimore rushed 6 times for 64 yards and Stephen Garcia ran it in from 1 yard out to make the score 38-24. A pass interference penalty gave Tennessee their last first down of the day, and they were unable to convert on fourth down. South Carolina then ran out the clock to seal the win.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| Tennessee | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| South Carolina | 0 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 38 |
Stars of the Game…Marcus Lattimore…29 rushes for 184 yards and 1 TD…Devin Taylor…1 INT return for TD…2 fumble recoveries…Stephen Garcia…13-22 for 223 yards, a TD and an INT…Alshon Jeffrey…3 receptions for 87 yards and a TD
What to Take from the Weekend…First, be happy to have the win. The Gamecocks needed to beat Tennessee, and they did. After that, it’s tough not to wonder about the direction of the season. This hasn’t seemed to be the same team since the first half of the Kentucky game. The offense is still talented and effective, but it has become incredibly less efficient in the red zone. I don’t know whether the Gamecocks were getting luckier earlier in the season of whether the play calling has changed, but Sunday’s 4-7 red zone performance won’t be good enough against several of the teams left on the schedule.
And what about the secondary and pass defense? South Carolina seems to be unable to stop anyone through the air. Tyler Bray and Matt Simms aren’t good quarterbacks, and Tennessee’s receiving corps is very average, but the USC secondary made them all look great. If the Gamecocks are going to finish the season the way they want to, they are going to have to improve in this area.
This and That…South Carolina improves to 6-2 (4-2) and leads the SEC East…3rd Down Conversions…SC 7 of 13…TN 7 of 14…Red Zone: SC 4 of 7, TN 3 of 4…Steve Spurrier’s tenure at South Carolina is now longer than Lou Holtz’s was…The 38 points was the most South Carolina has ever scored against Tennessee…Marcus Lattimore’s 184 yard rushing total pushes his season total to 722 yards for the season. The USC freshman record is 848 by Thomas Dendy…
Up next…South Carolina hosts Arkansas at home at 7pm on ESPN.
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