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South Carolina runs over No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 to finally beat an elite SEC team
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) LaNorris Sellers ran for 106 yards and threw for 244 more and South Carolina finally knocked off one of the Southeastern Conference's playoff contenders, beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 on Saturday night.
The Gamecocks (5-3, 3-3) took LSU and Alabama to the wire this season before losing. But this time their freshman quarterback and senior transfer Raheim Sanders ran all over Aggies (7-2, 5-1), who came into Saturday allowing just 104.5 yards a game.
Sanders, the all-SEC transfer from Arkansas, rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
Sellers threw for two touchdowns and ran for another score.
“He's special. He's just going to get better,” Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer said about the quarterback who played only his fourth full game in college. “When he had those two losses against LSU and Alabama he was inexperienced.”
Beamer said he felt like all he heard before the game was how powerful Texas A&M was on both lines. He was proud they gained 286 yards on the ground and shut out the Aggies in the second half.
“We're a pretty freaking physical team around here too,” Beamer said is a raspy voice with a thick black chain with a Gamecock logo around his neck that was given to him by a student storming the field.
The Aggies ground their way through the SEC to be the last undefeated team in the league and worked their way back to a lead before halftime after falling behind 14-0 less than six minutes into the game.
But South Carolina's chaotic defense came through when needed. It stopped the Aggies twice on fourth-and-1, picked off Marcel Reed's pass as the freshman threw off his back foot as Texas A&M drove early in the fourth quarter, then scooped up Reed's fumble to squash their last hope.
Reed was 18 of 28 for 206 yards and ran for 46 yards as the Aggies starter Conner Weigman didn't play. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said Reed is the starter right now but that could always change,
Texas A&M rushing leader Le'Veon Moss left the game early and didn't come back. Elko said his injury didn't look as serious as first thought, but he was waiting for more information.
Over and over again, the Texas A&M defense appeared to have Sellers sacked or Sanders stopped for a short gain and they bounced away. Elko said his team needs to realize it takes good form to bring down big men.
“Obviously I did a poor job getting our defense to understand how you tackle a 240-pound kid. We kept trying to get up high,” Aggies coach Mike Elko said at his postgame news conference, his comments barely heard over fans still in the stands and on the field yelling “Game” and “Cocks.”
Texas A&M: The loss is a blow to the Aggies’ SEC title hopes, but not a fatal one. They join four other teams - LSU, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas - with one conference loss. Texas A&M is at lowly Auburn then ends the regular season hosting the Longhorns. They have never made it to Atlanta to play in the championship game in 13 years in the SEC.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks are one of the SEC's most volatile teams. Saturday they showed they can beat about anyone in the league and are just a win away from a bowl with lower division Wofford still on the schedule.
No. 10 Texas A&M is going to drop some places in the AP Top 25, but with losses by both teams tied at 11th, Iowa State and Clemson, the Aggies may not fall too far.
Texas A&M: Hosts New Mexico State on Nov. 16.
South Carolina: At Vanderbilt next Saturday.
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M. Reed
10 QB 206 PaYds, PaTD, INT, 46 RuYds |
|
L. Sellers
16 QB 244 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, 106 RuYds, RuTD |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 19 | 26 |
Rushing | 7 | 13 |
Passing | 11 | 9 |
Penalty | 1 | 4 |
3rd Down Conv | 4-15 | 4-13 |
4th Down Conv | 1-3 | 1-2 |
Total Net Yards | 350 | 530 |
Total Plays | 70 | 70 |
Avg Gain | 5.0 | 7.6 |
Net Yards Rushing | 144 | 286 |
Rush Attempts | 42 | 43 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.4 | 6.7 |
Yards Passing | 206 | 244 |
Comp. - Att. | 18-28 | 13-27 |
Yards Per Pass | 5.9 | 9.0 |
Penalties - Yards | 7-68 | 3-25 |
Touchdowns | 2 | 5 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 3 |
Passing TDs | 1 | 2 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Fumbles - Lost | 4-1 | 1-1 |
Int. Thrown | 1 | 0 |
Punts - Avg | 5-40.2 | 4-40.0 |
Return Yards | 0 | 2 |
Punts - Returns | 1-0 | 0-0 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
M. Reed
10 QB
|
M. Reed | 18/28 | 206 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
A. Daniels
5 RB
|
A. Daniels | 13 | 83 | 1 | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Reed
10 QB
|
M. Reed | 16 | 46 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Smith
22 RB
|
E. Smith | 8 | 15 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Moss
8 RB
|
L. Moss | 2 | 8 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Thomas
3 WR
|
N. Thomas | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Bussey
2 DB
|
T. Bussey | 1 | -5 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Barber
1 WR
|
J. Barber | 9 | 7 | 80 | 1 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Allen
6 WR
|
C. Allen | 4 | 3 | 40 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Thomas
3 WR
|
N. Thomas | 7 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Moss
8 RB
|
L. Moss | 1 | 1 | 20 | 0 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Watson
84 TE
|
T. Watson | 1 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Walker
9 WR
|
J. Walker | 2 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Williams
0 WR
|
I. Williams | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Daniels
5 RB
|
A. Daniels | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Bussey
2 DB
|
T. Bussey | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Muhammad III
7 WR
|
M. Muhammad III | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
W. Lee III
26 DB
|
W. Lee III | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
R. Bond
47 K
|
R. Bond | 2/2 | 55 | 2/2 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
T. White
37 P
|
T. White | 5 | 40.2 | 2 | 50 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
E. Smith
22 RB
|
E. Smith | 2 | 10.5 | 21 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Bussey
2 DB
|
T. Bussey | 1 | 18.0 | 18 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. DeShields
22 LB
|
S. DeShields | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Barber 1 WR
|
J. Barber | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
L. Sellers
16 QB
|
L. Sellers | 13/27 | 244 | 2 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
R. Sanders
5 RB
|
R. Sanders | 20 | 144 | 2 | 52 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Sellers
16 QB
|
L. Sellers | 15 | 106 | 1 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
O. Adaway III
27 RB
|
O. Adaway III | 8 | 36 | 0 | 27 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Simon
6 TE
|
J. Simon | 5 | 4 | 132 | 2 | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Sanders
5 RB
|
R. Sanders | 5 | 5 | 92 | 0 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Bennett Jr.
3 WR
|
M. Bennett Jr. | 4 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Brown
14 WR
|
J. Brown | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
O. Adaway III
27 RB
|
O. Adaway III | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Harbor
8 WR
|
N. Harbor | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
G. Larvadain
7 WR
|
G. Larvadain | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
T. Sanders
90 DT
|
T. Sanders | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Stewart
6 LB
|
D. Stewart | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hemingway
91 DT
|
T. Hemingway | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
O. Fortune
3 DB
|
O. Fortune | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
A. Herrera
40 K
|
A. Herrera | 3/3 | 44 | 5/5 | 14 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
K. Kroeger
39 P
|
K. Kroeger | 4 | 40.0 | 3 | 45 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. McDowell
0 RB
|
J. McDowell | 1 | 28.0 | 28 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
10:46 | TXAM 25 | 1:35 | 4 | 9 | Downs |
8:24 | TXAM 25 | 3:09 | 7 | 41 | FG |
3:04 | TXAM 12 | 1:14 | 3 | 2 | Punt |
0:58 | TXAM 21 | 2:46 | 8 | 42 | FG |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
8:45 | TXAM 35 | 1:16 | 3 | 65 | TD |
5:28 | TXAM 40 | 4:20 | 10 | 60 | TD |
0:02 | TXAM 38 | 0:02 | 1 | -1 | Half |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | TXAM 22 | 3:26 | 6 | 19 | Punt |
9:19 | TXAM 22 | 1:34 | 4 | 9 | Downs |
6:50 | TXAM 25 | 1:52 | 3 | 9 | Punt |
1:37 | TXAM 13 | 2:29 | 6 | 59 | INT |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:44 | TXAM 25 | 0:57 | 3 | 4 | Punt |
8:44 | TXAM 11 | 3:32 | 8 | 40 | Punt |
3:24 | TXAM 25 | 0:09 | 1 | -12 | Fumble |
2:22 | TXAM 25 | 2:22 | 5 | 15 | Game |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | SC 25 | 4:14 | 11 | 75 | TD |
9:11 | TXAM 34 | 0:47 | 2 | 34 | TD |
5:15 | SC 30 | 2:11 | 4 | 15 | Punt |
1:50 | SC 47 | 0:52 | 3 | 17 | Fumble |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:12 | SC 25 | 4:27 | 10 | 68 | FG |
7:29 | SC 25 | 2:01 | 5 | 35 | Downs |
1:08 | SC 25 | 1:06 | 6 | 49 | FG |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
11:34 | SC 17 | 2:15 | 5 | 83 | TD |
7:45 | TXAM 31 | 0:55 | 4 | 6 | FG |
4:58 | SC 31 | 3:21 | 5 | 15 | Punt |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
14:08 | SC 16 | 1:24 | 5 | 39 | Punt |
11:47 | SC 21 | 3:03 | 6 | 39 | Punt |
5:12 | SC 15 | 1:48 | 5 | 85 | TD |
3:15 | TXAM 13 | 0:53 | 2 | 13 | TD |
- Touchdown (11 plays, 75 yards, 4:14 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) J.Zirkel kicks 65 yards from TXAM 35 to the SC End Zone. Touchback. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - SC 25 (15:00 - 1st) L.Sellers steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for N.Harbor. |
+20 YD | 2 & 10 - SC 25 (14:53 - 1st) L.Sellers pass complete. Catch made by R.Sanders for 20 yards. R.Sanders ran out of bounds. |
+9 YD | 1 & 10 - SC 45 (14:33 - 1st) R.Sanders rushed for 9 yards. Tackled by TXAM at TXAM 46. |
No Gain | 2 & 1 - TXAM 46 (13:44 - 1st) L.Sellers steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for M.Bennett. |
+3 YD | 3 & 1 - TXAM 46 (13:38 - 1st) R.Sanders rushed for 3 yards. Tackled by TXAM at TXAM 43. |
No Gain | 1 & 10 - TXAM 43 (13:05 - 1st) L.Sellers steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for. |
+3 YD | 2 & 10 - TXAM 43 (13:02 - 1st) L.Sellers scrambles for 3 yards. Pushed out of bounds by TXAM at TXAM 40. |
+6 YD | 3 & 7 - TXAM 40 (12:32 - 1st) L.Sellers scrambles for 6 yards. Tackled by TXAM at TXAM 34. |
+2 YD | 4 & 1 - TXAM 34 (11:59 - 1st) R.Sanders rushed for 2 yards. Tackled by TXAM at TXAM 32. |
+9 YD |