The outer residue of Hurricane Delta did not prevent the University of South Carolina from winning its first victory of the season on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.
With 2 touchdowns from quarterback Colin Hill and running back Kevin Harris and a total 479 yards of attack, the Gamecocks achieved a 41-7 victory over Vanderbilt.
Harris ended with the best 171-yard streak of his career for South Carolina (1-2, 1-2), who broke a 5-game losing streak since last season and extended his winning streak to 12 consecutive over Commodores without wins (0-3, 0-3).
Gamecocks have a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on Parker White’s 42-yard field goal. The shot extended White’s streak of goals to 14.
The streak ended on the next shot in South Carolina, when White missed 53 yards.
Vanderbilt directed the ball to Gamecocks 4, but was stopped on the 4th downhill.
South Carolina made 12 plays and scored 96 yards when Hill scored in a 1-yard goalkeeper in the 4th and a goal with 2:09 remaining in the first half.
The second half started with the Commodores being interrupted by an attempted fake punt on South Carolina 35. Two moves later, Kevin Harris ran through the middle untouched for a 25-yard touchdown.
Vanderbilt finally entered the table when quarterback Ken Sauls met Cam Johnson for a 22-touchdown reception.
With 4:22 left in the third quarter, Hill scored in a 10-yard touchdown run to make it 24-7.
White added a 39-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Gamecocks literally started running away with victory in their next 2 moves. On the 1st descent of South Carolina 12, Harris burst through an open hole in the scrimmage line and passed the Commodore’s defense for an 88-yard touchdown. It was the team’s longest touchdown since Bobby Wallace in 2006 against Middle Tennessee State.
It was the turn of ex-quarterback Dakereon Joyner in possession of South Carolina. On the first descent, he took the reverse hand and went down the right side to a 46-yard tank destroyer.
In the final minute, freshman Jordan Burch, from Hammond, recovered a fumble to close the victory.
South Carolina returns to action on Saturday to face Auburn at Williams-Brice Stadium. The game will air at noon on ESPN or the SEC Network.