Lanorris Sellers was laying on the turf, surrounded by the South Carolina training staff and all of nearly 80,000 fans in attendance were sitting down and quiet. Just over an hour before Williams-Brice Stadium was rowdy and excited, just how quickly things can change in college football.
Diego Pavia talked the talk in the off season, and he walked the walk Saturday night in Columbia. Pavia went 18/25 for 177 yards and two touchdowns, adding twenty-four yards on the ground. Vanderbilt had ten other ball carriers, gaining 147 yards on the ground between ten ball carriers. Pavia said over the summer on a podcast that the Commodores had this game circled as they were looking to break a sixteen game losing streak to the Gamecocks.
The Gamecocks offense was off to a decent start, Sellers was efficient on his first drive, marching Carolina 75 yards on seven plays and a score to answer Vandy’s opening drive score. After the Gamecock defense forced Vandy to punt, Sellers looked to be driving down to take the lead before Zaylin Wood stepped in front of his pass in the red zone to keep South Carolina off the board. On the Gamecocks fourth drive of the night with 1:55 left before the half, down seven, Sellers took a late hit to the head. He laid motionless on the turf for what felt like forever, after being helped off the field, 6th Year Senior Luke Doty was handed the reins to an offense that has already struggled mightily this year. On his first play from scrimmage, Doty found Nyck Harbor on a wide open slant with no one between him and the endzone, but just as Harbor caught the ball you could hear the referee’s whistle. They decided to look at the previous play for targeting, after even a lengthy delay with the injury and a tv timeout. Doty was able to gain a few yards to give Mason Love a chance at a fifty-three yard field goal with twenty seconds left in the second quarter, it went wide left.
The Gamecocks had the ball six times in the second half, two drives ended in fumbles, two on downs, one interception and one punt. The Gamecocks were held scoreless and only gained 159 yards in the second half. Doty went 18/27 with 148 yards with one interception, he also added twenty yards on the ground on nine carries. Rashul Faison was the leading rusher for the Gamecocks with fifteen carries for seventy-four yards and a score. Before the injury Sellers was 6/7 for 94 yards and an interception.
The Gamecock defense struggled all night especially at getting off the field. The Commodores went 6 for 12 on 3rd down and 1-1 on 4th down conversions. The Gamecocks actually outgained Vanderbilt 328 to 323 but went 4 for 12 on 3rd downs and 1-3 on 4th down. Justin Okoronkwo had an interception and four tackles, Dylan Stewart did add three tackles and a tackle for loss before being ejected late in the game.
The Gamecocks hit the road next week for a game in Columbia, Missouri against The Missouri Tigers at 7:00pm
Game Notes:
Marcus Lattimore made a return to Williams-Brice Stadium as he was the “celebrity starter” He was announced to heavy cheers.
Announced attendance was 79,873
The Gamecocks had eight penalties for eighty-five yards, Vandy four for forty.
Vandy had the ball 35:43 to the Gamecocks 24:17
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