The South Carolina Gamecocks dropped to 3-8, as The Citadel Bulldogs (8-3) won at Williams-Brice Stadium with a final score of 23-22 on Saturday.
Saturday’s game followed the same narrative of the Gamecocks all season. It marked the ninth time that South Carolina allowed at least two touchdowns in the first half, all nine of which resulted in losses. It was also South Carolina’s third consecutive game trailing by double digits at the intermission and fourth consecutive loss overall.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 14-3 lead in the first quarter. Running back Cam Jackson rushed for a 59-yard touchdown on an option play, which was answered by an Elliott Fry field goal.
The Citadel responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a seven-yard touchdown run by Citadel fullback Tyler Renew.
The Gamecocks seized control for the second and third quarters, outscoring the Bulldogs 13-0, but couldn’t hold on to complete the comeback.
“Everybody expects us to win these games, being that we're going against a lower division school. They came out there, they outplayed us, outhustled us and they outcoached us. They just beat us,” Junior wide receiver Pharoh Cooper said.
In past weeks, the offense has faltered late by way of turnovers, but this week it was because of a defensive breakdown. Quarterback Perry Orth connected with Cooper on a 41-yard touchdown reception with less than nine minutes remaining for South Carolina’s first lead of the game.
On the next drive, Renew answered back with a 56-yard rushing touchdown to regain the lead. The fullback had a career day, rushing for 174 yards on 23 carries and converting two into touchdowns.
Known to play a triple-option style of offense, the Bulldogs rarely pass the ball and did so just three times for 37 yards on Saturday. The team, however, accumulated 350 total rushing yards and had two players rush for over 100 yards.
Starting linebacker Skai Moore was limited in the game for missing practice due to personal reasons.
South Carolina did shortly regain the lead with a 94-yard touchdown reception from Cooper on its final drive, but the score was called back for illegal movement on the offense.
“I did not see anything wrong,” Orth said. “I guess they had originally thought it was offsides, but they blew it, and then, I don’t know, I guess it was a miscommunication, but it was pretty unfortunate.”
Orth passed the ball a career-high 43 times in the game, completing 28 of them for 367 yards. Cooper was his primary target, catching 11 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.
“My individual stats were good, but we lost the game. That’s the only thing that really matters. We didn’t get the W,” Cooper said.
Despite huge numbers from the duo and three trips to the red zone, the Gamecocks managed just two touchdowns. Two of the three red zone trips resulted in field goals from kicker Elliot Fry, who now has the third-most field goals made in the school’s history.
The team was penalized seven times for 51 yards, including two unsportsmanlike conduct calls and an illegal chop block.
With a bowl game already ruled out, South Carolina will conclude its season at home against Clemson on Nov. 28. South Carolina has won five of the last six games between the in-state rivals.