Five Key Plays and Game Balls

Five Key Plays

1. First play from scrimmage

On the first play of the game, Nick Chubb took a handoff off the right side through a gaping hole for an 18-yard gain. He didn’t even face a tackler until he was well into the secondary. The whole game went that way. Georgia rushed for 326 yards on 50 carries, good for 6.5 yards per carry. It seemed the only time Georgia had trouble moving the ball was when it decided to pass.

First play for USC. Block in the back. Nice 8 yard screen pass to Dowdle called back. Holding on second play negated another nice gain (but probably enabled it). 1st and 25 – Orth to Hurst over the middle for 20 yards.

2. Orth’s interception

On the first play of the second quarter, Perry Orth dropped back to pass on third down. Hayden Hurst had a little separation, but it required a perfect pass to get him the ball. Orth did not make a perfect pass. He underthrew Hurst by a couple feet, allowing Malkom Parrish to make the interception. The turnover gave Georgia a short field at the South Carolina 28, and soon took a two touchdown lead.

3. Eason’s interception

Georgia was running the ball down South Carolina’s throats oce again, and had gotten down to the 14. Then it inexplicable decided to pass. Georgia had trouble getting lined up, and Jacob Eason had to rush the snap. He threw a quick slant to Javon Wims, who was covered tightly by Jamarcus King. Wims couldn’t make the catch and the ball ricocheted high in the air. Antoine Wilder came down with the ball at the ten for the turnover. South Carolina would use the ensuing drive to finally get on the scoreboard.

4. Fourth and one

Sandwiched in between two spectacular Deebo Samuel plays, Dowdle made the key play on South Carolina’s first scoring drive. After Samuel’s 39-yard pass got South Carolina in Georgia territory, the drive sputtered. Down two touchdowns and facing fourth and one from the Georgia 20, South Carolina had little choice but to go for it. Dowdle answered the call with a nine-yard burst up the middle, his longest run of the day. The conversion set up Samuel’s nine-yard touchdown two plays, giving South Carolina life.

5. Turner drops the pass

Down 21-7 early in the fourth quarter, South Carolina saw its slim hopes for a comeback slip through A.J. Turner’s hands. On second and eight from the Georgia 37, Orth looked deep then swung a pass to Turner in the flat. There was nobody within 10 yards of Turner. But Turner dropped the pass. Had he made the catch, he likely would have had the first down and maybe even a longer gain. Worst case scenario he would have put South Carolina in a third and short situation. Instead, South Carolina turned the ball over on downs and South Carolina would have needed some Tennessee-caliber luck to come back and tie the game.

Game Balls

Offense

Deebo Samuel

At one point in the third quarter, Samuel had nearly half of the Gamecocks’ total yards on offense as he showed how much the Gamecocks missed him while he was out with a hamstring injury. Samuel had 90 yards on four catches, including catches of 33 and 39 yards. He also scored his second rushing touchdown of the season in the third quarter.

Hayden Hurst

Hurst continued to be a reliable target in the passing game. He caught six passes on eight targets, both team highs, for 86 yards. Hurst drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone, and had another play where he appeared to be interfered with but no flag was thrown. He did not field a punt, however, and let one punt bounce past him down to the three.

Defense

Jamarcus King

King had three tackles, including a tackle for loss in which he blew up Sony Michel on a swing pass. King also drew a holding penalty that negated a huge gain, and broke up the pass that became an interception.

Bryson Allen-Williams

Allen-Williams led the Gamecocks with nine tackles. He also had a tackle for loss, although he had another tackle for loss negated by a facemask penalty. He was the most reliable tackler on a team that missed a lot of tackles.

Darius English

English continues to thrive in his role as a pass rusher. He had six tackles, including a sack and tackle for loss. He also was able to get into the backfield on several plays, redirecting the play.

Special Teams

Elliott Fry

Fry made both his PATs and had a touchback on one of his kickoffs. His onside kick attempt had a chance at being recovered. In a game where special teams let the Gamecocks down repeatedly, not messing up earns a game ball.