The South Carolina Gamecocks played their homecoming game against Vanderbilt on Saturday night at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. The Gamecocks came into this week at 3-5 and 2-4 in conference play, reeling from a romping in Tennessee last week. Vanderbilt’s record wasn’t so great as they entered at 2-5 and only 1-3 in conference play. South Carolina held the all-time lead in this series by 24-4 and was favored to win the matchup, but the Gamecocks’ faithful weren’t so sure leading up to halftime.
The Gamecocks are notorious for giving up the game in the second half, but not this week. They kept control of the game the entire second half and won on homecoming night.
South Carolina started the game with possession of the ball, but it was Vanderbilt who put the first points on the board ending their opening drive after 11 plays and six minutes with a completed pass from Riley Neal to Cam Johnson for the 26-yard touchdown. On the next South Carolina possession, the ball was fumbled by Mon Denson and recovered by Elijah McAllister, giving Vanderbilt possession.
Halfway through the second quarter, the Gamecocks put their first score on the board when Ryan Hilinski connected with Xavier Legette for a 20-yard touchdown. Parker White made the extra point and the score was tied, 7-7. South Carolina was able to get on the board again before the first half ended when Kevin Harris jumped one yard into the end zone for seven more. They would keep the lead going into halftime.
Halftime | #SpursUp pic.twitter.com/9BHZdtPjjH
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) November 3, 2019
Vanderbilt received the ball first to open the second half and was unable to convert their opening drive into any points on the board. Gamecocks could not score in their opening drive, either. The Gamecocks were able to take possession away from Vanderbilt late in the third quarter when R.J. Roderick intercepted a Deuce Wallace pass on the third drive of the half, taking possession of the ball entering the fourth quarter. The score remained the same at the end of the third: 14-7.
South Carolina opened the last quarter of the game with possession of the ball and Parker White ended the drive with a 22-yard field goal, extending the South Carolina lead by 10. Vanderbilt didn’t put any points on the board in their first possession of the quarter, but the Gamecocks did put another touchdown up in the following possession when Hilinski connected with Bryan Edwards for 25 yards, adding another seven to their score and making it 24-7. On the very next Commodores possession, T.J. Brunson picked up his first interception of the season and the Gamecocks’ offense went back out on the field. Vanderbilt was unable to stop South Carolina on four downs at the goal preventing any more points. The game would end a few minutes later and South Carolina went to 4-5 on the season, needing to win two of the final three games to become bowl eligible.
South Carolina won, 24-7.
Up next for South Carolina is another home game against Appalachian State at 7:00 p.m. EST on ESPN2.
AYE! Bryan with the TD! pic.twitter.com/2X39XbVrpQ
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) November 3, 2019
