It was South Carolina's first game in over 10 years without Steve Spurrier, who resigned earlier this week, and nobody knew how the team would respond without the iconic Head Ball Coach.
The afternoon began with interim head coach Shawn Elliott commemorating Spurrier by carrying out his signature visor and concluded with the Gamecocks (3-4, 1-4) defeating the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-4, 0-4) 19-10 in a sloppy fashion.
The South Carolina Gamecocks’ offensive woes haunted them yet again, particularly in the red zone. The offense tends to habitually drive down the field, but subsequently stagnates approaching the end zone as if some sort of invisible barrier encapsulates it. This trend continued on Saturday afternoon when the Gamecocks failed to convert a single touchdown in the red zone.
Elliott addressed the red zone issues after the game.
"It was probably just a combination of a lot of things. It was a combination of being the 8-ball, so to speak, with preparations for the week, some distractions," Elliott said.
The game was largely chronicled by poor offensive execution by both South Carolina and Vanderbilt. Turnovers doomed the Commodores from the very start. Quarterback Johnny McCrary fumbled twice in the game, losing one, and would later be picked off twice in the fourth quarter to damper any potential Vanderbilt comeback effort.
South Carolina’s dynamic linebacker duo, made up of Skai Moore and T.J. Holloman, recorded three of the five takeaways. Holloman, who was disqualified in the first quarter after a targeting call, recovered a fumble to set up the Gamecocks’ first field goal attempt. Moore’s two takeaways came in the fourth quarter, one setting up a field goal and the other sealing the victory with 3:53 remaining in the game.
Despite several extensive drives by the Gamecocks, the team scored just one touchdown in addition to its four field goals. Kicker Elliott Fry made four field goals on six attempts, missing from 39 and 55 yards out.
As expected, the interim head coach made an effort to utilize the rushing game. Senior running back Brandon Wilds turned in his strongest performance of the season, rushing for a season best 119 yards on 24 carries. Wilds season and career high last season was 143 yards on just eight carries.
"The ground game's important. It's important in the SEC. You've got to be able to run the football," Elliott said.
When South Carolina's rushing game is efficient, it alleviates the pressure from the quarterback's shoulders, who, in this case, was Perry Orth. The third-string quarterback earned his first win as a starter, passing for 272 yards on 17 completions, including one 78-yard touchdown pass to Pharoh Cooper.
Cooper's heroic reception shifted the momentum into South Carolina's favor, as Vanderbilt seemingly collapsed afterward.
It is apparent that the team is looking ahead toward a new era, an era without Spurrier. But Orth had some kind words for the former head coach after the game.
"I haven't really had a chance to talk with Coach Spurrier, but I want to say that I'm forever grateful for the opportunity that he gave me because today wouldn't have happened without him," Orth said.
Interim Coach Elliott and the Gamecocks have two weeks to sort things out and prepare for Texas A&M after their upcoming bye week.