Coming off a second-half collapse to Texas A&M last Saturday, the Gamecocks didn't fall into that trap this time.
Behind a season-high four turnovers, the South Carolina football team defeated the Razorbacks, 48-22, at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The Gamecocks scored a season-high 48 points, including three passing touchdowns from quarterback Jake Bentley, two interceptions returned for touchdowns from Skai Moore and Keisean Nixon and a strip sack from TJ Brunson for the first touchdown of his career.
"Out of everything, that's probably what I'm most proud of the guys about is, you know, no one got rattled," Bentley said. "No one got down. We just kept battling. Defense made some big plays for us and we just started executing better and got it going."
The Gamecocks’ win is their third straight against Arkansas, giving the team its longest win streak in the series. It was the most complete game defensively according to Brunson and Moore.
"It's good when we're both clicking on all cylinders and doing what we're supposed to do," Moore said of the offense and defense. "Offense brings out the defense when they make plays, defense brings out the offense, so the momentum just keeps going."
How they scored
First quarter:
Parker White’s 33-yard field goal gives South Carolina a 3-0 lead with 9:46 left in the first quarter. Drive summary: 4 plays, 0 yards, 1:27
Connor Limpert’s 48-yard field goal ties the score, 3-3, with 6:31 left in the first quarter. Drive summary: 8 plays, 45 yards, 3:15
Second quarter:
Hayden Hurst’s 62-yard touchdown reception from Jake Bentley, along with Parker White’s extra point, put South Carolina up, 10-3, with 14:15 left in the half. Drive summary: 2 plays, 65 yards, 0:45
Austin Allen completed a five-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Jones with 8:26 before the half. The touchdown and point after tied the game, 10-10. Drive summary: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:49
Bryan Edwards’ hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass from Bentley with four seconds remaining in the half. White’s point after was good, and the Gamecocks took a seven-point lead at half time. Drive summary: 8 plays, 69 yards, 1:54
Third quarter:
Parker White’s 29-yard field goal with 9:28 left in the third quarter gave the Gamecocks a 20-10 lead. Drive summary: 9 plays, 50 yards, 3:49
Skai Moore’s 34-yard pick six extended the Gamecocks’ lead to 17 points with 8:33 left in the third quarter. Drive summary: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00
TJ Brunson forced his first fumble of the season and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown. The touchdown and White’s extra point gave the Gamecocks a 34-10 lead. Drive summary: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00
Fourth quarter
Ty’Son Williams catches a three-yard pass and runs untouched into the end zone, giving USC a 41-10 lead. Drive summary: 11 plays, 60 yards, 5:37
David Williams’ rushed four yards for his first touchdown of the game, cutting USC’s lead to 41-16. Arkansas’ two-point conversion attempt was no good. Drive summary: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:11
Defensive back Keisean Nixon picked off Arkansas backup quarterback Cole Kelley and returned it 45 yards for the touchdown. Drive summary: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00
Cole Kelley threw a 34-yard pass to Jonathan Nance with 1:40 left in the fourth quarter, but the two-point conversion was no good. Drive summary: 5 plays, 58 yards, 1:53
Key numbers
62 - Hurst's 62-yard touchdown reception was the longest reception of his career, passing his previous longest of 47 yards. The catch made Hurst the third tight end in USC history to surpass 1,000 career receiving yards.
13 – Moore’s pick six in the third quarter was his 13th interception, which is one shy of the USC record held by Bo Davies. It was the Gamecocks’ first pick six of the season.
61 – Rico Dowdle rushed for a season-high 61 yards on 11 carries. His longest rush was 10 yards.