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Pepper, Cook spice up turnovers
Defense makes up for early lapses with huge swings of momentum
University of South Carolina Nos. 96 Clifton Geathers and 92 Byron McKnight sandwich Ole Miss QB No. 4 Jevan Snead, who fumbled the ball in the first half. USC's Nathan Pepper scooped up the loose ball and ran it back for a touchdown.
Erik Campos/ecampos@thestate.com /Erk Campos
CommentsOXFORD, Miss. — This is becoming an annual thing for Nate Pepper. Only this time, everything went right.
Emanuel Cook had the same hopes. But he just kept thinking: Hold on tight.
South Carolina’s defense had perhaps its worst game of the year on Saturday. But thanks to two big moments, belonging to Pepper and Cook, it still got the job done in a 31-24 win at Mississippi.
It started with Pepper’s 29-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the second quarter. That gave USC its first lead, after Mississippi had moved the ball easily and scored touchdowns on its first two drives.
“The kids were frustrated,” USC defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. “I think finally scoring on defense, we had three or four good series after that.”
It was the second touchdown of Pepper’s career. But as he was reminded a few times, it could have been his third.
Two years ago at Clemson the defensive tackle let up near the goal-line on a fumble return, and had the ball knocked away for a touchback. After a touchdown return last year against South Carolina State, Pepper was injured in the celebration.
Saturday’s return almost didn’t happen. Pepper at first thought Ole Miss quarterback Jevon Snead had thrown an incomplete pass, even as Pepper grabbed the ball.
“I just scooped it up thinking they were going to blow the whistle,” Pepper said. “But I never heard the whistle. So I kept going.”
This one also had extra meaning for Pepper. Before the game, coach Steve Spurrier told players to envision someone they would play this game for. Pepper dedicated it to his brother, Demetrius, who is serving a life sentence without parole for murder.
“It felt real good to be able to come out and get a touchdown for him,” Pepper said.
Mississippi eventually took a 21-17 lead and was preparing to add a score late in the third quarter. Then came Cook’s big moment.
Receiver Dexter McCluster caught a pass down to the 6 yard line, but safety Chris Culliver delivered a hit that knocked the ball out.
Cook grabbed it and ran. At first he was thinking touchdown, but he amended that around the 50-yard line. He was winded and Mississippi receiver Lionel Breaux was also bearing down, so Cook put both hands on the ball and prepared to go down.
“I was yelling, watch out behind ya, because I could see that guy (Breaux) winding up.” Spurrier said. “And next thing I knew (Cook) protected the ball.”
Spurrier thought Cook saw Breaux on the big screen, but Cook said it was Breaux’s shadow. Either way, he prevented a double-turnover play.
“We’re starting to get the turnover game going,” Cook said. “That’s what coach has been preaching all week. And I think we did a good job of getting that done today.”
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
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