The No. 11 South Carolina football team was upset by the Vanderbilt Commodores 31-7 on Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium. With the win, the Commodores ends a 16-game losing streak to the Gamecocks.
“I told the team before the game, Vanderbilt is a team you've got to go beat," head coach Shane Beamer said. "They're not gonna give you anything. We didn't do that tonight.”
Vanderbilt took an early 7-0 lead in the contest after a nine-play, 73-yard opening drive capped off by touchdown pass from graduate quarterback Diego Pavia to junior running back Sedrick Alexander's touchdown.
South Carolina answered back with a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Graduate running back Rahsul Faison ended the drive with a seven-yard rushing touchdown.
With the ball on the Vanderbilt 14-yard line, after a three-and-out by the Commodores, redshirt sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw his first interception of the season to graduate defensive linemen Zaylin Wood.
The game remained dead even at 7-7 until the 1:56 mark in the second quarter, when Pavia connected with junior wide receiver Junior Sherrill for a five-yard touchdown.
On the first play of the drive following the Vanderbilt touchdown, Sellers was hit late on a pass to Faison and taken out of the game. Graduate athlete Luke Doty checked into the game.
Doty helped get the Gamecocks down to the Vanderbilt 35-yard line, setting up redshirt freshman kicker Mason Love for a 53-yard field goal attempt. Love missed the field goal and the Commodore lead reamined at 7.
On Vanderbilt’s first offensive drive of the second half, the Commodores went on a four-play 75-yard scoring drive that was finished by sophomore running back Jamezell Lassiter’s 44-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 21-7.
Later on in the quarter, Vanderbilt had the ball inside the South Carolina endzone, but sophomore linebacker Justin Okoronkwo picked off Pavia to keep the Commodores from adding on to its lead.
The Gamecocks was unable to capitalize on the turnover and ended up turning the ball over again on fourth down after Doty failed to complete a pass to redshirt senior tight end Jordan Dingle.
Vanderbilt’s junior kicker Brock Taylor hit a 51-yard field goal to expand the Vanderbilt lead, taking advantage of the short field position.
The final touchdown of the game, with 5:29 left in the fourth quarter, was when Alexander scored his second rushing touchdown of the game, making it 31-7.
During this drive, sophomore defensive end Dylan Stewart was ejected from the game due to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Stewart could potentially miss the first half of the Missouri game next week.
Overall, Vanderbilt finished the game with 323 yards of offense, compared to 328 for the Gamecocks, and were able to finish drives with touchdowns instead of turnovers.
“Everybody can be better,” Faison said. “Just think together as a team, and don't listen to the outside noise. Stay locked in together, and put our heads down, and just get to work.”
Sellers misses second half with injury
Sellers was injured with just 1:47 left in the second quarter, and Doty took over for the rest of the contest. Doty ended up finishing with 148 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.
“He's an older guy. Certainly some plays that he would like to have back,” Beamer said. “A guy we believe in, the team believes in and trusts, and I thought he played okay. None of us were good enough tonight.”
With no current update on the injury to Sellers, Doty believes that he has what it takes to be the starter moving forward until Sellers returns.
“Just overall coming in prepared,” Doty said. “I feel like I did a good job during the week. Preparing like I do, preparing like the starter. If something ever does happen, I’m ready to go when my number's called.”
Other potential quarterback options for the Gamecocks next week are redshirt freshman Air Noland and freshman Cutter Woods.
Missed chances
The Gamecocks was unsuccessful in winning the turnover battle in tonight's game. South Carolina had two interceptions and two fumbles, while Vanderbilt only had one interception and zero fumbles lost.
South Carolina also failed to convert on a fourth down right after Okoronkwo intercepted a Pavia pass.
“When you turn the ball over four times in the SEC, you're going to get your rear ends kicked,” Beamer said. “And that's what happened tonight.”
Commodores handles the Gamecocks defense
Vanderbilt found lots of success today by relying on its run offense. In total, the Commodores rushed for 146 yards. In last year's game, it was only able to rush for 108 yards.
“We just have to do better on third down and stopping the run,” junior defensive back Jalon Kilgore said. “I feel like it's basic stuff, nothing special.”
The Commodores was also able to keep Pavia out of trouble by limiting South Carolina’s ability to get pressure on the quarterback. South Carolina ended the game with just one sack, its lowest of the season.
What’s next?
South Carolina will be on the road next week as it takes on Missouri in Columbia, MO. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPN.