A second-half recovery was short for the University of South Carolina, as it fell 31-27 to Tennessee on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Running back Kevin Harris put the Gamecocks 7-0 with a 3-yard run to end an initial scoring attempt of 11 plays and 75 yards.
The Volunteers responded with a goal shot, crowned by a 1 yard defender from Jarrett Guarantano. The move included a 30-yard reception by Brandon Johnson and a 31-yard reception by Eric Gray.
Tennessee’s defense put him ahead with 13:22 left in the 2nd quarter. In a 3rd and 16th, Colin Hill’s pass deflected from Shi Smith and fell into the hands of linebacker Henry To’oto’o in Gamecock 32.
He managed to stay on the pitch and followed a procession of blockers in the endzone for the touchdown. It was the first interception of To’oto’o’s career.
The second half saw Tennessee open with a 7-goal, 74-yard move to increase its lead to 21-7. After a 20-yard run through Guarantano, Gray broke the middle of the Gamecock defense for a 12-yard touchdown.
After 5 consecutive attempts without a score, the Gamecocks’ attack returned with 2 consecutive scores. Hill connected with Shi Smith for a 32-yard touchdown reception to reduce the deficit to 21-14.
After the South Carolina defense forced a 47-yard field goal missed by Brent Cimaglia in Tennessee’s next series, the Gamecocks mounted a 71-yard drive to tie the game at Hill’s 1-yard goalkeeper.
Tennessee regained the lead with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter in Cimaglia’s 27-yard field goal. The Gamecocks responded in 4th with a 35-yard field goal from Parker White to tie the game for the 3rd time.
It took 1 minute and 13 seconds for the Volunteers to respond when Guarantano found a Josh Palmer open for a 32-yard touchdown pass.
White’s 45-yard field goal brought Gamecocks into 4 points with 3:48 remaining in the game. The defense forced a punt 1:29 from the end, but the ball hit the cornerback Cam Smith when it landed, the Volunteers recovered the muff to maintain possession of the ball.
Dutch Fork graduate Bryce Thompson led Tennessee with 8 tackles and airport graduate Paxton Brooks had 6 punts averaging 40.5 yards per kick.
South Carolina (0-1) hits the road next week to face Florida.