USC vs. Vanderbilt: 25 things you might have missed

A roundup of news and notes from South Carolina’s season opening 13-10 win over Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn.

1. Perry Orth was money on third down and long.

The Gamecocks quarterback threw for a modest 152 yards in Thursday’s win over Vanderbilt. His rating was a pedestrian 125.1. He had 126 yards in the final two quarters and bounced back from a 2-for-7 start.

How good was he when the offense faced third and long? On plays when the offense needed 6 yards or more for the first down, he connected on five of eight passes. The shortest completion: 11 yards. The average completion: 20.4 yards.

For a guy hailed as the safe choice, he slung it in tight spots as well as one could ask, a feat made more impressive facing a defense that aims to prevent big plays.

Other things you might have missed:

2. Will Muschamp became the first coach in South Carolina history to win his coaching debut with the Gamecocks on the road.

3. Elliott Fry’s game-winning 55-yard field goal tied for the second-longest field in school history. It also generated a frenzy of social media well-wishes from Gamecock greats, including now-NFL kicker Ryan Succop:

4. South Carolina brought eight wide receivers to Nashville, including four freshmen. Bryan Edwards was the only first-year pass catcher to play. Freshman tight end Kiel Pollard also traveled.

5. Edwards (8 catches, 101 yards) became the eighth player in school history to record 100 or more receiving yards in a season opener in school history.

6. QB-turned-WR Lorenzo Nunez did not travel for the season opener. He has not yet cracked the depth chart at the position, Muschamp said.

7. DT Kelsey Griffin, the highest-rated member of USC’s 2013 signing class, made his first career start Thursday as a senior.

8. Seven others who made their first career USC starts: Edwards, CB Rashad Fenton, WR Jamari Smith, C Cory Helms, RG Donell Stanley, RT D.J. Park and RB A.J. Turner.

9. Game captains were Orth, Helms, LB T.J. Holloman and DT Taylor Stallworth.

11. University of South Carolina president and super fan Harris Pastides was unable to attend the game because of tropical weather passing through the Palmetto State.

12. Six true freshmen played Thursday: Edwards, DL D.J. Wonnum, QB Brandon McIlwain, LB T.J. Brunson, DL Kobe Smith and DL Keir Thomas. Other newcomers who traveled but did not play included QB Jake Bentley, OL Sadarius Hutcherson, OL Chandler Farrell, DL Aaron Thompson and DB Steven Montac.

13. Hutcherson, who is expected to redshirt, made the trip for the opener. He is the lone Gamecock who is from the state of Tennessee. His hometown of Huntingdon is about two hours west of Nashville.

14. Javon Charleston, who transitioned from receiver to cornerback in the preseason, played Thursday on special teams.

15. Injured South Carolina QB Michael Scarnecchia joined the team in Nashville and assisted with calling in plays.

16. Redshirt freshman A.J. Turner started at tailback, running for 70 yards on 13 carries. His 18-yard sweep on the Gamecocks’ final drive set up the game-winning field goal. USC didn’t get much else from its tailbacks as David Williams had nine yards on five carries.

18. USC had six penalties in the first half, several that backed a young offense into drive-killing situations. The Gamecocks responded with one infraction in the second half.

19. Senior DE Marquavius Lewis and senior DB Chaz Elder each had a team-high seven tackles in the game.

20. Stallworth and Darius English split the Gamecocks’ lone sack of the game that came in the fourth quarter. The defense had three tackles for loss and three passes broken up.

21. Of Vanderbilt’s 13 drives, three went longer than 20 yards. One of those was actually efficient, a 49-yard march in seven plays. The others involved Vandy needing 13 plays to get 67 yards and 11 plays to get 43.

22. Vanderbilt’s offense brought what was expected. On first downs, the Commodores ran 21 times to only six passes. Nine of the 21 runs gained at least five yards, and the team rarely did more than run again on second downs.

23. South Carolina had two turnovers, both fumbles (Deebo Samuel, Brandon McIlwain). Vanderbilt had zero.

24. New numbers: Antoine Wilder wore No. 21. He was No. 29 on the roster before the game. Daniel Fennell switched from No. 30 to No. 35.

25. Vandy tailback Ralph Webb’s SEC Media Days guarantee of a Commodores’ victory was not lost on the South Carolina defense.

This story was originally published September 5, 2016 at 1:17 PM with the headline "USC vs. Vanderbilt: 25 things you might have missed."