Get right, Gamecocks: South Carolina airs it out in convincing win over Furman
South Carolina played its first home football game of 2023 in front of a sold-out crowd: 78,281 strong.
The Williams-Brice Stadium seating was covered in garnet and black, jumping along to “Sandstorm” before kickoff. But as USC’s starters trickled off the field in the third and fourth quarters, so did fans. There was no real need to stick around and get caught up in traffic.
Everyone knew how this game was going to end.
The Gamecocks defeated Furman 47-21 on Saturday for their first win of the season. South Carolina (1-1) is now 12-1 under head coach Shane Beamer when leading at the half.
A good mood swept over Columbia as time ticked down and the scoring margin widened. And good timing, too, with No. 1 Georgia in Athens on the docket for next week.
Here are five things that stood out from USC’s first home game of the season:
Spencer Rattler does it again
Quarterback Spencer Rattler had another nearly spotless game after a stellar debut last weekend in Charlotte. He recorded just two incompletions Saturday (both in the second quarter), completing 25 of 27 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran in his 13th career rushing touchdown to tie the game at 14-14 in the second quarter.
The performance marked his fifth 300-yard game in his last six contests. And he reached those numbers quickly, as Luke Doty, Colten Gauthier, redshirt freshman Tanner Bailey and freshman LaNorris Sellers saw playing time at quarterback in the second half. All five signal-callers combined for 463 passing yards.
Turnovers were a big talking point for Rattler over the offseason. He had no interceptions against UNC and none against Furman, a team whose secondary had two pick-sixes in a Week 1 win.
Rattler threw to nine different receivers, but his connection with Xavier Legette proved strong once again.
Is Xavier Legette new WR1?
Fresh off a career game in Charlotte, Legette continued to thrive Saturday night in Columbia. He snagged six catches for 118 yards and one touchdown. One of his most explosive plays came in the final seconds of the half: a 53-yarder to set up South Carolina’s third touchdown.
Legette had 167 receiving yards (from 18 catches) all of last season. He has accumulated more yardage in his first two games this year.
His strong start made room for younger receivers to get in the mix, including Nyck Harbor — who scored his first collegiate touchdown in the fourth quarter — and O’Mega Blake, who scored in the second quarter.
Gamecocks protect the QB
South Carolina’s offensive line struggled against UNC in Week 1, giving up nine sacks and finishing with negative-2 rushing yards on 31 carries. But the Gamecocks saw improvement against a formidable Furman defense.
The starting front five appeared to be more of the same as what South Carolina leaned on against UNC last weekend: Sidney Fugar, Nick Gargiulo, Vershon Lee, Jakai Moore, Tyshawn Wannamaker. But freshmen Tree Babalade and Trovon Baugh played plenty of snaps as well.
They only allowed one sack all game Saturday when Doty was brought down for a loss of one yard in the third quarter.
USC’s run game, including receivers and QBs, combined for 108 yards rushing. Dakereon Joyner led the unit with 42 yards on 11 attempts. Mario Anderson (32 yards on six carries), freshman Djay Brawswell (17 yards on four carries) and Juju McDowell (15 yards on six carries) also had double-digit numbers.
South Carolina is now 13-1 under Beamer when they run for 100 or more yards.
South Carolina capitalizes on high-pressure situations
Beamer was not pleased with the Gamecocks’ red zone struggles against UNC. South Carolina only scored on three of five chances in Charlotte.
But on Saturday night in Columbia, USC scored on all three first-half red zone attempts. The Gamecocks also converted on a crucial fourth down that set up a score in the second quarter, after going 0-for-4 on fourth down against UNC.
More injuries
Defensive back Keenan Nelson Jr. and wide receiver Ahmarean Brown went to the locker room near the end of the second quarter.
Brown got knocked out of bounds on a punt return. His arms were draped over the shoulders of two USC staffers who helped carry him to the sideline as he favored his right leg. He left the field on crutches. Nelson left the game after a collision with fellow Gamecock Debo Williams.
Nelson returned to the sideline in the third quarter without shoulder pads. He and Brown were ruled out for the rest of the game a few minutes later.
Next USC football game
Who: South Carolina at Georgia
Where: Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga.
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16
TV: CBS
