While South Carolina's win over Troy Saturday wasn't overly exciting , it was a win and one step closer to a .500 campaign under first year head coach Shane Beamer. The Gamecocks used a blend of Parker White's kicking and big plays on defense to avoid the "Sun Belt Special" and win it 23-14. However, don't let those things overshadow the fact South Carolina was outgained on the ground. The Gamecocks were held just over 100 yards rushing and an average of less than 4 yards per tote. The ground game for South Carolina has to make strides if they are to make any headway in SEC play.
A Parker White FG was the only offense for either team in the opening frame. South Carolina capped a 15 play, 70 yard drive that took over 6 minutes on a chip shot 23 yarder from White to lead 3-0. Troy would take their only lead of the game in the 2nd quarter, on a 35 yards TD run by B.J. Smith. SC answered with a LUke Doty TD pass to E.J. Jenkins with 4:12 left in the 1st half to re-take the lead 10-7. Perhaps, the turning point play in the game would come with less than a minute left in the 1st half. Gamecock DB David Spaulding would pick off a pass and take it 74 yards for a pick 6, that gave South Carolina a 17-7 lead at the half.
Jamontez Woods would score on a one yard run on Troy's first possession of the 2nd half. That would cut the SC lead to 17-14. South Carolina's defense would come up with some big plays from that point forward and keep Troy off the board the rest of the way. The Gamecocks forced 4 turnovers and were plus one in turnover margin. SC would get a 48 yard Parker White field goal with under 5 minutes left in the 3rd to lead 20-14. White tacked on one more with less than minutes left in the game, to give South Carolina a 9 point lead at 23-14.
Gamecock QB Luke Doty was solid going 20 of 34 for 255 yards and a TD. South Carolina's running game as mentioned above was stifled. Gamecocks got 52 yards on two carries from WR Josh Vann, the rest of their ball carriers had a total of 50 net rushing yards. The Gamecock Secondary was solid in addition to Spaulding's big play , Damani Staley added a pick and recovered a fumble. South Carolina did miss on a chance to score another defensive TD on a crazy play. Troy's QB Powell was stripped South Carolina picked it up and then fumbled it, Brown picked up that fumble and ran it back. However, he tossed the ball into the air short of the goal line on the return. The ball bounced through the back of the end zone for a touchback.
The Gamecocks are now 3-2 after the win over Troy. South Carolina travels to "Rocky Top" to take on a Tennessee team that just hammered Mizzou. That game is set for a noon kick on Saturday.
