It took a while for them to warm up, but the South Carolina Gamecocks moved on and hit the Vanderbilt Commodores, taking their first win of the season 41-7 on a rainy and sometimes sloppy Saturday in Nashville.
As mentioned, however, it was a slow start for South Carolina, despite Vanderbilt carrying only 56 fellows due to COVID’s injuries and quarantines. Gamecocks’ two-game streak of scoring in their initial possession came to an end when a unit focused on the pass resulted in a few takedowns, a sack and a quick punt. South Carolina’s defense was on top of the Commodores, however, forcing a three-and-out and a fumble from Ken Seals (although Vandy has recovered).
South Carolina recalled that it has Kevin Harris, and he did the heavy lifting on the Gamecocks after taking possession, with some strong runs to move the chains. Unfortunately, Collin Hill took another drive-kill sack, forcing the USC to settle for a 42-yard field goal from Parker White to make it 3-0.
Vanderbilt went back to work, driving quickly across the field with a mix of runs and a few passes to knock on the door. A break from Jaycee Horn in the end zone forced the ‘Dores to settle for a field goal of their own – which, fortunately for Gamecocks, was just the right side.
A 21-yard tackle by Xavier Legette on the third descent opened the second quarter for South Carolina, followed by a big win at Deshaun Fenwick’s ground. But the pocket collapsed again in another third fall, and White pulled a 54-yard field goal attempt to the left.
Problems continued for South Carolina in Vanderbilt’s next possession, when Horn left the game with a knee injury and Seals was more successful against the Gamecocks’ secondary for another quick trip to the red zone. But the South Carolina defense, led by Ernest Jones, managed a fourth-line save down the goal line to keep the Commodores off the board.
A 32 yard bomb against Nick Muse got the Gamecocks off to a good start, and after a few more footprints from Muse and runs by Harris, Shi Smith finally got his first reception with a big win from a paddle pass to get USC to 15 yard line. After Harris was caught a few times on the goal line, a goalkeeper from Hill in the fourth and inches scored a 10-0 lead for Gamecocks just before the break.
Vanderbilt opened the third quarter with a false three and three punt attempt and failed, which could not have been better for South Carolina. With excellent field position, the Gamecocks made the ‘Dores call with a 25 touchdown run. Harris yards. But Vandy attacked back with a 9-play, 75-yard drive crowned by a 22-yard reception from Cam Johnson to make the 17-7.
Muse, in his best performance so far in a Carolina uniform, saved the Gamecocks once again at a third critical point in his next possession, grabbing a 29-yard pass to move the chains. Another reception from Smith prepared South Carolina for Vanderbilt 10, and Luke Doty made a brief appearance as a quarterback to hand over to Harris. But it was Hill who collected his second accelerated score of the day, showing some rare mobility to push Gamecocks forward 24-7.
After a quick three-and-out Commodore and a favorable Gamecock hitting the punt, the South Carolina drive threatened to stop until an obvious Vanderbilt pass interference in Smith on the fourth and short. Unfortunately, a few Harris crashes on screen attempts aborted the drive anyway, and a game delay meant White’s field goal attempt was 40 yards. Fortunately, he sent through the columns anyway to put Gamecocks at a 27-7 advantage.
After yet another quick 3-and-out from Vandy at the start of the fourth period, Harris took off on the first move of the next USC attempt for an untouched 88-yard touchdown, placing South Carolina at 34-7 and pushing the accelerated total Harris at 171 yards a day. In order not to be left out of the fun, Dakereon Joyner joined the game on the next USC trip and took a 47-meter walk to the house, with Hill running in search of some downhill blocks.
In the next possession of the ball in South Carolina, Ryan Hilinski took over as quarterback to see his first action in 2020, with Doty in the game as well. Things were sloppy, however, with some fighting between the attackers and a delay in the game penalty that ensured that the drive was not going anywhere. Vanderbilt’s next trip also got nowhere, when it ended with an interception by Cam Smith – a good redemption for him.
ZaQuandre White, getting into the tail, fumbled with South Carolina’s next possession, but the Commodores fumbled back, with Jordan Burch recovering. It was a sloppy ending, due to the bad and increasingly serious weather conditions, but you cannot dispute the results.
South Carolina had 479 total attack yards, with Harris (21 charged, 171 yards) and Muse (five receptions, 85 yards) standing out. Smith was strangely quiet, but it was a good sign to see the offense so productive with him not taking it much into account. For his part, Hill did not complete the statistics sheet, but he was an efficient 13 out of 19 for 178 yards, two race scores and no turn.
Gamecocks improves to 1-2 and will host No. 13 Auburn next week.