SOUTH CAROLINA FINALLY GETS A WIN AGAINST ARKANSAS
The University of South Carolina football team ended three years of frustration against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday – notching a 38-20 win over a program that had given head coach Steve Spurrier’s squad fits in recent years.
In the process, Spurrier’s Gamecocks matched a school record with their sixth SEC win of year – equalling last season’s record-setting mark. In fact South Carolina has now gone 17-7 against SEC opponents over the last three seasons after posting an abysmal 54-85 mark through its first eighteen years in the conference.
The No. 8 Gamecocks (8-2, 6-2 SEC) also won for the first time this season without All-American running back Marcus Lattimore, who suffered a horrific knee injury during USC’s 38-35 victory over Tennessee two weeks ago. In Lattimore’s absence, freshman Mike Davis and fifth-year senior Kenny Miles shared the rushing load – combining for 90 yards on 27 carries. Meanwhile quarterback Connor Shaw – who won SEC Offensive Player of the Week against Tennessee – completed 14 of 22 passes for 279 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
He also ran for a 1o-yard score.
The win moved Shaw to 15-3 as a starter – while the Gamecocks moved to 6-1 over the last two years in games played without Lattimore, who underwent surgery on his right knee last week.
Last year Arkansas humiliated the Gamecocks 44-28 on a cold, blustery night in Fayetteville. Two years ago, USC was shellshocked at home by the Razorbacks 41-20.
Not this time, though … as the Gamecocks reeled off their tenth consecutive home victory in front of 78,772 fans at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Arkansas did its best to keep the game close in the first half – but a pair of second quarter drives deep into South Carolina territory failed to produce touchdowns for the Razorbacks. On the first drive Arkansas running back Dennis Johnson fumbled at the USC five-yard line, while later in the quarter USC defensive back Akeem Auguste broke up a pass in the end zone to force the Razorbacks to settle for a field goal.
That preserved USC’s 14-10 lead, and on the Gamecocks’ ensuing possession Shaw hit wide receiver Bruce Ellington for a 42-yard touchdown strike on a critical fourth down play – putting South Carolina ahead 21-10.
Ellington finished the game with five catches for a career-high 104 yards – his second straight 100-yard game. The two-sport star – who is also a point guard on the USC basketball team – wasn’t the only Gamecock receiver to shine against the Hogs’ porous secondary.
Tight end Justice Cunningham made an absolutely gorgeous over-the-shoulder grab early in the first quarter – laying out to haul in an overthrown floater from Shaw. That 26-yard gain converted a third-and-fourteen play – and four plays later Shaw hit tight end Jerrell Adams for a 29-yard score (the talented freshman’s first touchdown as a Gamecock).
USC converted seven of thirteen third down plays in addition to its big fourth down score. Meanwhile Arkansas was held to just 4 of 12 third down conversions and failed on its only fourth down attempt.
While the passing game stole the show, Davis and Miles played exceedingly well in Lattimore’s absence. In fact Miles threw a Lattimore-like block that sprung Shaw for a ten-yard touchdown run in the first half – breaking a 7-7 tie.
The Gamecock defense – which was scorched for 472 yards and 35 points by Tennessee – had a much better outing this week against the SEC’s top quarterback, Tyler Wilson.
Wilson completed 26 of 41 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. He was also picked off twice, though – including a third quarter interception that USC defensive back D.J. Swearinger took back 69 yards for a backbreaking touchdown.
Swearinger heaved the ball into the crowd following his score – drawing a personal foul penalty on a third straight play (on the previous two plays he was called for a horse collar tackle and a helmet-to-helmet hit that will likely result in him missing next week’s game against Wofford).
In addition to its three takeaways, USC also got steady pressure on Wilson – with sophomore sensation Jadeveon Clowney registering one of three USC sacks.
Arkansas (4-6, 2-4 SEC) continued to struggle after starting the season ranked No. 10 in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ Coaches’ polls (one spot behind the Gamecocks). Back in April, the school fired Bobby Petrino after the 51-year-old head coach failed to disclose an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate within the school’s athletics department. Petrino’s teams won 21 games in 2010 and 2011 – and finished last season ranked No. 5 in the nation.
Clearly his absence is being felt.
Ironically, Petrino’s mistress – 25-year-old Jessica Dorel – recently moved to Columbia, S.C. along with her fiance Josh Morgan, who accepted a job with the USC swimming and diving program.
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48 comments
Your boy Loveday almost nailed the score, no?
Perfect beatdown. If the NCAA calls targeting on Swearinger, I call bullshit on the whole stupid rule, it was a.clean.chest on chest hit.
Doesn’t make a difference now, Alabama just lost and USC will likely be going to the Depends Undergarment Bowl or its equivalence now… if lucky they’ll get to go to the Outback Bowl, but that’ll likely go to Georgia.
But you don’t care or know anything about USC, nor take sides in USC vs. Clemson debates, right? Moron.
I have no life of my own so I pick on people to be cool
At least you can admit it. Good for you.
You do realize that was just a douchebag who used my name and added periods to it.
if it was he seems to know you pretty well
Been a horrible week for America. I’m Ashamed of my country after Tuesday…
But the Gamecocks are a source of pride for South Carolina. South Carolina makes all of us proud… Good job…and thanks…
Just pretend SC succeeded again. You live in your own fantsay world anyway. …but don’t hate them cocks when they did not take the WH, Senate and House.
Who do you think the majority of the team voted for Tuesday night? Do you seriously think M. Lattimore voted for Romney? You are an idiot. 4 more years, dummy! Lol
Whose your president, son?
Obama LOST South Carolina…I don’t give a $#!* who a few people voted for…
It is states like Ohio Mich. Florida and Pessslvnaia that HATE their countrymen so much, they will vote for their Own Selfish causes and Greed more than the good of the country…
We should all be ASHAMED of them…
It’s like Clemson and the ACC…they Greedily take Football credibility, when they are a disgrace to the REAL teams…
Just like Obama voters are Lazy and produce nothing…Yet they let that piece of $#!* control something he could never EARN himself…
If you like injustice and corruption, you like the ACC, Clemson and Obama…
Anyone notice during the Notre Dame – Boston College game that there were an awful lot of white guys on the field?
If USC were to lose in Richland County, South Carolina, then Lillian McBride can play with the scoreboard and whomever she wants will win – until SLED comes in and claim they are the real Democrats, er, Gamecocks and they are in charge and they will seize the scoreboard – then Liz Crum will ask Queen Jean what to do, what do I do? The Queen will tell her minion to get Harpo and the opposing losers to file something – anything – and she’ll think about it over drinks this weekend. Just let her handle it. Problems? None.
My USC football operative tells me that the entire football squad got in a kumbaya circle just before the game and all agreed that this game would be played for healing not only for one person but for the entire nation as well.
It was agreed that this game was for President Obama and his magnificent vision for America and for his superb handling of the hurricane crises. What a selfless team!
Anybody else hear Marcus told Obama to CRAM it up his @$$, after Obama tried to use him to make himself look better…w/ a WH invite…??
When a Lazy, Good For nothing, lying president tried to use a kid like Marcus…it shows just how Low Obama is…
!00 people Dead from Sandy, and Obama feasted on their Corpses…What a dirtbag…
Thanks Marcus for BEECH Slapping Obama…The Country needs leaders like you…Not Anti-American haters like Obama…
BigT says: “100 people Dead from Sandy, and Obama feasted on their Corpses…”
So now we know. Obama is a Zombie! Zombies do NOT reproduce, so Obama will only be around for so long. I’m new to this Zombie thing. What can we do?
Maybe Mitt was right. We should be prepared and have emergency reserves. Perhaps magic underwear and aliens is the only thing that can save us now. We have been forsaken!
What I find so Funny with you RELIGIOUS Zealot Obama Fools…
You Do something totally Overtly, but when called on it..you Try to Lie about it…
By now, everybody in America KNOWS the media USED the Hurricane Response to try and help their Idiot Obama…
And after the election, NOW (all pof the sudden) the news is Coming out what a Disaster it is..and what a Disgrace Obama’s response was…
Even Chris Christie has Figured out Obama and the media RUINED him to dupe the Dumb@$$#$…
It is What you are…just like the Economy…it’s yours..but let’s bet you’ll still keep trying to blame er’body else…even when we all know what a Failure Obama is…
Face it: You, Obama, the media, and Dabo are the same level of Liar and incompetent…
The probability of anyone being this stupid is 1 in 1,000,000,000.
Chris Matthews said he was GLAD Hurricane Sandy hit, because it helped Obama…
So I’d say you are EXTREMELY STUPID to deny it… But you are pop culture stupid (meaning many are like you, you’re not rare)…
Hahaha! How I scoff at your insolence over Sandy. You petty fool, Big(0)T.
Who cares about Mathews when we have Nate? Nate Silver had Obama at a 73 percent chance of winning an electoral college majority on Oct. 29, 2012. Obama’s great leadership on Sandy certainly helped, but did not win it for him.
Yawn….another day, another win.
Only BigT can make anything about Obama. Can we get back to the game?
F^&* you…you piece of $#!*….
GET Obama’s D!c*@ out of your mouth if you don’t like it…
Or I’ll Stuff Obama Down your Throat until you CHOKE on him…It’s WAR MoFo…so arm up….
It’s FAR, FAR from over…If you think so…You’re one Ignorant B@$*ard…
Real Americans don’t give their country away that easily…
I’m armed up, Big Man. Whatcha going to do? Not a damn thing but whine?
You gone collect a welfare check, wreck the healthcare system, and BEG the adults to keep paying for your Food stamps…
But a minority of Brave men Won this country…and they’ve beaten the $#*t out of mealy-mothed Beggers like you over and over…
You are the Weak, corrupt and Sneaky….You @$$ will be KICKED…it just takes a while for some to figure out how Dangerous you are…
Americans are not always bright…but they will get it…and the media cannot prorect Pieces of $#!* like you but for so long…Hitler found that out and his Charred remains were found in a bunker…
History has taught the stupid nothing…
So, I take it that America will enslave and murder minorty groups, go to war with the free world and get our asses kicked? Okay, Loons…prepping now.
America gave Barack Obama (an alleged monority) front-of-the-line status he did not EARN all the way to the White House…and now he is ENSLAVING the people who do earn…until he collpases to economy completely…
And the RACIST “minority” votes in Lock Step hate…to punish (or get revenge as Obama says) on those who are not their skin color…
You’re an Ignorant Dumb@$$….it seems, when compared to reality….
Mmmkay…
Seriously, BigT??? I don’t if I should laugh or call DMS.
Sorry, DMH!
Good Game!!
Thanks Thomas…
Yes! A great day for football!
Hey Big T Douchebag…get on your knees and assume he position. Obama is your lord and master. Suck it bitch!!
Spoken like a TRUE Disciple of the THIRD REICH…
And we all know what “eventually” happened your Fuher…
Give it some time…history will repeat itself for you….His Evil will collapse on Obama…
Don’t worry, OIYR. (not that you would) This guy can’t predict which direction the Sun will rise.
But I can tell you where it will set…And based on your boy’s miserable (but covered up) track record…it ain’t good….
Watch the stock market this coming week…I tried to tell you lazy, Hand-out begging Racists…but you would not listen…
At least the Gamecocks stock is rising…
Stick to football, BigT. Are you on a fantasy league?
Big T drafted Obama as his fantasy QB, Nancy Pelosi as his RB and for giggles he picked up Dabo for his tight end.
Lol!
If I did pick obama for my QB, Obama is like pop culture god, Cam Newton. Romney would have been a Tim Tebow. Confident, but modest,and hated by the World. But Romney would turn a losing country, into a winner, like Tebow did to Denver last year…
Newton, like Obama, is a very selfish, self-centerd player, who cares about himself and says F%^k the team…a classic LOSER…
America will be a loser like the Panthers w/ Newton…and the media LOVESNnewton, just like they swoon for the Failed Obama…
Thanks for giving me an analogy…
Fuck the team? Sounds like your attitude with America.
You’re welcome!
Im gay
Nice period.
I bet you are and so is your old man.
my old man f#cked you in your ass to make you his bitch. I heard you begged for more. loser
I hear he likes them young and firm… maybe why your fat, old mom was so bitchy all the time.