South Carolina offense faces new-look Georgia defense
When you’re the top high school running back in a talent-heavy state like Georgia, doors tend to open up for you.
In Mike Davis’ case, 11 doors opened up.
South Carolina’s junior running back from Stone Mountain, Georgia received offers from top programs like Florida, Clemson and UGA and initially committed to the Gators.
Davis decommitted after the four-star prospect felt he was being misled by the coaching staff at Florida.
He also had ties to Clemson — his brother James Davis played for the Tigers from 2005-08 and earned first-team all-ACC accolades before he received a draft pick from the Cleveland Browns.
After Georgia landed North Carolina-native running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, Davis landed with the Gamecocks.
Now, three years removed from the recruiting process, Davis has a chance to prove he made the right decision when he picked South Carolina over Georgia.
And if Davis’ sentiments about his teammates are any indication, he did.
“It felt good to be back out there, just having fun with my teammates,” Davis said. “I love those guys to death, you know. I’d go out there and do anything for those guys, even laying my body on the line for them.”
An 18-carry 101-yard performance from Davis against East Carolina not only powered the South Carolina offense to a 33-23 victory over the Pirates, but also reestablished the ground game that the Gamecocks need to be successful in the SEC this season.
South Carolina’s success on the ground also took pressure off of fifth-year senior quarterback Dylan Thompson, who was able to shake off an opening-game loss to complete 25 passes for 266 yards and a touchdown.
As Thompson went, so did junior wide receiver Shaq Roland. Roland reeled in seven passes for 94 yards, gaining many of his yards after the catch.
After jumping out to a 30-16 lead, South Carolina was able to keep the ball away from the Pirates, using a bruising running attack to pound out an 18-play drive that took up over 10 minutes and culminated in a field goal.
But that wasn’t what stood out to head coach Steve Spurrier.
“It was encouraging to run the ball with Mike and Brandon [Wilds],” Spurrier said. “Obviously, everyone in the ball park knew what play was coming. And we just kept handing the ball off and letting the clock run.”
Against the Bulldogs, running the ball with tenacity could be the formula for success for the Gamecocks.
Davis logged 149 yards on 16 carries last year against Georgia, outrushing Gurley by 17 yards. In the game, Davis’ average yards per carry was an astonishing 9.3, while Gurley managed nearly four-and-a-half yards each time he ran the ball.
South Carolina’s success in Saturday’s matchup will likely be measured by Davis and Wilds’ ability to move the ball on the ground.
One mistake by way of a Connor Shaw fumble spelled doom for the Gamecocks last year, and one mistake is likely one more than South Carolina can afford to make Saturday.