The South Carolina football team collapsed late against the No. 3 Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field today in a 31-30 loss. The Gamecocks have now dropped seven of their last eight games.
South Carolina’s offense showed early promise with newly promoted offensive coordinator Mike Furrey.
A keeper by redshirt sophomore quarterback LaNorris Sellers on a read option converted a third-and-1 and was followed up by a creative end-around turned pass from freshman wide receiver Brian Rowe Jr. to LaNorris Sellers for a 21-yard gain.
From the Aggies' 18-yard line, the drive stalled out following three straight incompletions. Redshirt senior kicker William Joyce drilled a 36-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.
A sack by senior edge Bryan Thomas Jr. on third down held the Aggies to a field goal despite a deep completion to junior wide receiver Kevin Concepcion for 43 yards. The 41-yard make tied the game at 3 with 7:55 to go in the first quarter.
The Gamecocks faced an early third-and-10 on their next possession following back-to-back incompletions to start the drive. LaNorris Sellers found freshman wide receiver Jayden Sellers for a 22-yard gain to move the chains.
LaNorris Sellers then hit redshirt sophomore wide receiver Vandrevius Jacobs perfectly in stride on third down for a deep completion and 50-yard touchdown to take a 10-3 lead.
Starting the second drive much like the first, sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed connected with Concepcion on a 40-yard play. Gamecocks sophomore linebacker Fred Johnson stuffed a third-and-short rush attempt, forcing an Aggies 45-yard field goal that missed wide left.
A perfectly timed jump by sophomore edge Dylan Stewart forced Reed into a backwards pass for a fumble. It was recovered by redshirt senior defensive lineman Nick Barrett for a 17-yard scoop and score touchdown to put South Carolina up 17-3.
The turnover ended the first quarter and pushed the Gamecock defense to 17 turnovers on the season, the most of any team in the SEC.
A 14-yard rush by redshirt sophomore running back Jawarn Howell helped the Gamecocks to a 41-yard field goal to take a 20-3 lead with 9:32 to play in the half.
The Aggies would earn just their fourth first-down conversion of the game on their next drive thanks to a defensive pass interference penalty on Gamecocks junior cornerback Brandon Cisse on third down.
Senior edge Bryan Thomas Jr. caught Reed from behind on a scramble attempt on 3rd and 10, forcing another Aggies punt, Texas A&M’s third straight.
Facing a second-and-long, LaNorris Sellers sailed a pass intended for junior tight end Maurice Brown II high over the middle, resulting in an Aggies interception returned to South Carolina's 6-yard line.
The Gamecocks stood tall, allowing no yards after the pick. The Aggies then missed a 24-yard field goal, their second miss of the game.
The Gamecocks punted the ball back, but on the second play of the Aggies' drive, Reed was intercepted by redshirt sophomore defensive back Vicari Swain in the endzone.
On the very next play, LaNorris Sellers stepped up in the pocket before finding junior wide receiver Nyck Harbor at the 35-yard line. Harbor outraced every Aggie defender for an 80-yard touchdown, giving South Carolina the 27-3 lead.
Just two plays from scrimmage later, Swain intercepted Reed for his second consecutive turnover. A 14-yard rush by LaNorris Sellers set up Joyce’s third field goal of the day and helped the Gamecocks to a 30-3 lead at halftime.
Facing an early fourth-and-12 from midfield in the third quarter, Reed managed to scrambled for a first. On the next play, he found redshirt freshman wide receiver Izaiah Williams for a 27-yard touchdown. Texas A&M trailed 30-10 with 11:36 left in the third.
LaNorris Sellers led the Gamecocks down to the Aggies' 30-yard line on their first possession of the half. Electing to go on fourth-and-one, a rush by redshirt freshman running back Matt Fuller was stuffed, resulting in a turnover on downs.
Answering quick, Reed fired deep to redshirt freshman wide receiver Ashton Bethel-Roman for a 39-yard score that put the Aggies down just 13 with 4:18 to go in the third quarter.
The Gamecocks answered with a three-and-out. A 76-yard catch by Bethel-Roman was stopped by a shoestring tackle by junior defensive back Jalon Kilgore. Reed then found graduate tight end Nate Boerkircher for a 14-yard passing touchdown to push the score to 30-24, cutting the deficit to six.
The Gamecocks managed only one first down on their next possession before punting the ball back to the Aggies. It marked their third straight drive without a score.
A defensive pass interference on junior linebacker Judge Collier granted the Aggies a kickstart to the drive. Texas A&M converted its first third down of game with 12:34 to go.
Graduate running back EJ Smith punched in the Aggies touchdown, capping off a 99-yard touchdown drive. The Aggies took a 31-30 lead with 10:47 left in the game.
With a chance to answer, South Carolina lost 12 yards across three plays before punting.
Texas A&M quickly drove down into scoring range, but on third down from the 1-yard line, the Aggies attempted a backwards pass from Smith to Reed that was fumbled and recovered by the Gamecocks at their own 9-yard line with 3:10 left in the game.
South Carolina quickly faced a fourth-and-6 on its attempt at a game-winning drive. Sellers then found Harbor for a contested catch along the sideline to keep the drive alive.
The Gamecocks then allowed sacks on both second and third down, forcing a fourth-and-16 from their own 25-yard line with 1:42 to go. Sellers would attempt to rush for the first, but only gained 7 yards, turning the ball over on downs. The Aggies kneeled out the remaining game clock.
What’s next?
South Carolina hosts Coastal Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium next Saturday at 4:15 p.m. The Gamecocks will look to end a five-game losing streak.