South Carolina Gamecocks: Takeaways from 44-20 upset over Aggies

By / SEC / Leave a Comment
Raheim Sanders, Rocket Sanders, South Carolina Football, South Carolina Gamecocks, The League Winners

On Saturday, the South Carolina Gamecocks beat the No. 10 ranked Texas A&M Aggies 44-20 in SEC conference play. The victory marked their biggest upset since 2022 when they beat No. 8 Clemson. Here is a look at the key plays and what we learned from the game.

Another fast start

After scoring 21 unanswered points to start off their last game against Oklahoma, the Gamecocks kept the momentum rolling going into Week 10. To start the game, South Carolina scored the first 14 points of the contest. They began by taking their opening drive 75 yards in 11 plays. It was capped off by a brilliantly designed quarterback run play that gave LaNorris Sellers the game’s first touchdown.

The Aggies looked to respond quickly on their first series, but were faced with a tough 4th-and-1 decision on their own 34-yard line. Head coach Mike Elko decided to take a gamble by going for it.

A&M quarterback Marcel Reed tested South Carolina’s interior line with a quarterback sneak, but South Carolina was up to the challenge. They stopped Reed in his tracks, forcing a turnover on downs. From there, it only took two plays for the Gamecocks to find the end zone.

Faced with an immense amount of pressure from the A&M defense, Sellers stayed composed and throw a perfect touch pass to his tight end Joshua Simon to put South Carolina up 14-0.

Aggies respond

Texas A&M responded forcefully, going on a 20-3 run and surging to the lead. They started by scoring six points on two Randy Bond field goals (52, 55). The Gamecocks responded with a strong red zone drive that just fell short, ending in an Alex Herrera kick making the score 17-6 in favor of South Carolina. When the Aggies got the ball back, it didn’t take them long to strike again. Amari Daniels burst right through a wall of Carolina defenders and took it 56 yards to the house.

After South Carolina turned the ball over on downs near midfield, A&M took full advantage with a second touchdown in as many drives. Reed floated a pass to Jabre Barber for the score.

With just over one minute left in the half, South Carolina looked to stop the Aggie’s momentum with a score. Aided by two Texas A&M penalties, the Gamecocks were able to drive 49 yards and get into Herrera’s field goal range which knotted the score at 20 heading into halftime.

A Dominant Second Half

South Carolina wasted no time getting to work in the second half. The Gamecocks defense forced a Tyler White punt, and then Rocket Sanders ripped off his second longest rush of the season –52 yards– to put USC up seven.

Feeling the threat of an upset creeping closer, A&M  played aggressive by going for a 4th and 1 deep in their own territory for a second time this game, but ended up getting stopped  again. The Gamecocks stretched the lead to a two possession game with a Herrera field goal. 30-20.

It took another eight drives for points to be scored, when Sellers connected with Simon for his second TD of the game.

The very next play was a Tonka Hemingway strip sack that Kyle Kennard fell on, giving the Gamecocks another chance to score. As was the story of the entire game, South Carolina made the most of their opportunities. Running back Raheim Sanders ran into the end zone for the second time to add to his tremendous night..

And don’t think Gamecock nation forgot about what to do after big games. They put the emphasis on the storm in Sandstorm.

Takeaways

  • Sellers is improving every week. He’s showing more poise and maturity each game. On multiple occasions, the Aggies got a free rusher in the backfield. However, they were unable to bring Sellers down, using his size and strength to his advantage. In total, he ran for 106 yards and a touchdown while passing for 244 yards with two touchdowns.
  • This was a Rocket Sanders legacy game. He ran 20 times for 144 yards (7.2 yards/carry) and two touchdowns. The rushing attack was in full effect, and Sanders displayed his speed in the open field.
  • The defense continues to play at a high level. The two fourth-down were enormously important, giving the team momentum when they needed it most. The run defense was strong as well, only giving up 3.5 yards per carry. In addition, they forced an interception and a fumble.
  • The South Carolina Gamecocks limited A&M’s star studded defensive line, as Shemar Stewart and company didn’t record a sack all game.

Leave a Reply

Discover more from The League Winners

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading