Gamecocks offense finally clicking after eight games

Halfway through the season, the Gamecocks were averaging 14 points per game and were sputtering on offense: hot-and-cold running game and a passing game lacking consistent vertical threats.

The defense, whose goal it is to limit opposing offenses to just 16 points, was straining to keep the score low enough for the Gamecocks to have a chance.

Now, it looks like both sides of the ball are on the same page after back-to-back games scoring over 20 points and two wins.

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The Gamecocks (4-4, 2-4 SEC) hung on to beat Tennessee, ending a three-game skid against the Vols and finding a way to hold on to a three-point lead.

“There have been a lot of times when we come in here and talk to you guys and say the biggest problem with us is not executing,” Bryson Allen-Williams said. “Well tonight we went out and executed and played the way we wanted to play.”

From the start, the way the Gamecocks wanted to play was to run the ball and force turnovers. It worked well, with the Gamecocks racking up 325 total yards. Rico Dowdle rushed for a career-high 115 yards.

Deebo Samuel also set a career-high for receptions with eight, leading the team with 83 yards. Bryan Edwards and K.C. Crosby both caught touchdowns as five Gamecocks caught passes Saturday night.

This comes a week after eight caught passes in a 34-28 win over UMass. It’s the second straight week the Gamecock offense gained over 300 yards, and it might be a sign of things to come with new starter Jake Bentley at the helm.

“The offense is great,” Samuel said. “When we’re able to run and pass the ball I don’t feel like anyone can stop us.”

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The Gamecocks stumbled into the bye week on a three game losing streak with thoughts of a bowl game quickly fading away. Since the week off, the Gamecocks are undefeated and are averaging 29 points a game.

Now they just need two more wins to get to a bowl game for the first time in two seasons. Crosby thinks the past two games, including Saturday’s 24-21 upset over No. 18 Tennessee can be a stepping stone for that.

“This is the spark to start a winning streak so we can finish the season strong,” he said.

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The Gamecocks face Missouri next (4 p.m., SEC Network) with the hopes of continuing their winning streak.

The Gamecocks finally proved to themselves they could win close games, especially against an opponent like Tennessee where recent games have had razor-thin margins. The last four games in the series have been decided by 14 points total.

“It meant a lot to finish out this game,” Allen-Williams said. “It means a lot for our program and the future of this program. We proved that we can finish games. We just have to continue working so we can show people who we are.”