A 2nd half comeback came short for the University of South Carolina as it fell 31-27 to Tennessee Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Running back Kevin Harris put the Gamecocks up 7-0 …
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A 2nd half comeback came short for the University of South Carolina as it fell 31-27 to Tennessee Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Running back Kevin Harris put the Gamecocks up 7-0 with a 3-yard run to cap a 11-play, 75-yard opening scoring drive.
The Volunteers answered with a scoring drive of its own capped by a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Jarrett Guarantano. The drive included a 1-handed catch for 30 yards by Brandon Johnson and a 31-yard reception by Eric Gray.
Tennessee’s defense put it ahead with 13:22 left in the 2nd quarter. On a 3rd and 16, Colin Hill’s pass deflected off Shi Smith and into the hands of linebacker Henry To’oto’o at the Gamecock 32.
He managed to stay inbounds and followed a procession of blockers into the endzone for the touchdown. It was To’oto’o’s 1st career interception.
The 2nd half saw Tennessee open with a 7-play, 74-yard scoring drive to extend its lead to 21-7. Following a 20-yard run by Guarantano, Gray broke through the middle of the Gamecock defense for a 12-yard touchdown.
After 5 straight drives without a score, the Gamecocks’ offense stormed back with 2 straight scores. Hill connected with Shi Smith for a 32-yard touchdown reception to cut the deficit to 21-14.
After South Carolina’s defense forced a missed 47-yard field goal by Brent Cimaglia on Tennessee’s next series, the Gamecocks put together a 4-play, 71-yard drive to tie the game on Hill’s 1-yard keeper.
Tennessee reclaimed the lead with 2:21 left in the 3rd quarter on Cimaglia’s 27-yard field goal. The Gamecocks answered in the 4th with a 35-yard field goal by Parker White to tie the game for the 3rd time.
It took 1 minute and 13 seconds for the Volunteers to answer back as Guarantano found an open Josh Palmer for a 32-yard touchdown pass.
A 45-yard field goal by White brought the Gamecocks to within 4 points with 3:48 left in the game. The defense forced a punt with 1:29 left, but the ball hit cornerback Cam Smith as it landed the Volunteers recovered the muff to maintain possession.
Dutch Fork graduate Bryce Thompson led Tennessee with 8 tackles and Airport graduate Paxton Brooks had 6 punts averaging 40.5 yards per kick.
South Carolina (0-1) heads on the road next week to face Florida.
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