South Carolina vs. Kentucky: 25 things you might have missed

1. Kentucky defeated South Carolina three years straight for the first time in series history. Three of UK coach Mark Stoops’ five SEC wins in four seasons are against the Gamecocks.

2. Kentucky didn’t pass the ball in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats’ last 22 offensive plays were runs that gained 91 yards.

3. Each of Kentucky’s previous three opponents this season – Southern Miss, Florida and New Mexico State – gained at least 500 yards of total offense. The Gamecocks finished with 268.

4. Of 128 FBS teams, South Carolina is now 127th in scoring, averaging 14.3 points per game. Florida International (13.5) is No. 128.

5. Freshman quarterback Brandon McIlwain was 15-for-30 passing for 177 yards. McIlwain went 2-for-8 for 41 yards on his six longest pass attempts. He was 8-for-9 for 97 yards passes that didn’t cross the line of scrimmage.

6. After converting 3-of-13 third down attempts against Kentucky, South Carolina is next-to-last in the SEC in third down conversions with a 31 percent success rate (18-of-58).

7. Sophomore tight end Hayden Hurst was South Carolina’s leading receiver as he caught seven passes for a career-high 84 yards. His 19 catches on the season are a team high.

8. Freshman tailback A.J. Turner (12-42) scored on a 12-yard run, USC’s only touchdown and longest rush of the game. The Gamecocks’ second longest run came on a busted sweep play when one lineman tripped, taking another out of the play. Turner kept running and got good blocking on the edge to get 11 yards.

9. Junior tailback David Williams, who was huge in the win over ECU, had nine carries for 33 yards against Kentucky.

10. South Carolina’s offense was without two receivers who have made starts this year, both with hamstring problems: Deebo Samuel and Randrecous Davis. Samuel could return vs. Texas A&M, but Davis is expected to be out again.

11. Freshman receiver Chavis Dawkins (from Byrnes High) had his first career catch, a 13-yard reception. The only freshman receiver who has yet to see the field is Korey Banks.

12. Freshman tight end Kiel Pollard saw the most extensive action of his young career, lining up mostly in the slot. He played on at least two drives and was targeted once.

13. Freshman RB Rico Dowdle traveled to Kentucky but did not play. He’s expected to play vs. Texas A&M, possibly just on special teams.

14. USC might have gone up 17-10 in the third quarter on a 48-yard punt return for a touchdown by Rashad Fenton, but the play was called back by a block in the back penalty against South Carolina freshman T.J. Brunson. “It was a clip,” coach Will Muschamp said.

15. McIlwain was sacked four times Saturday after not being sacked at all against East Carolina.

16. USC’s defense had four sacks for the second straight week. Senior defensive end Darius English recorded a career-high three sacks and finished with seven tackles. It was the most sacks in a game by a South Carolina player since Jadeveon Clowney had 4.5 against Clemson in 2012.

17. South Carolina won the turnover battle for the second week in a row, getting two turnovers from Kentucky while giving away none.

18. The USC defense has been on the field for 300 plays through four games. That’s the 10th-highest total in the SEC this year. The Gamecocks are eighth in the SEC in yards allowed per play at 5.32.

19. South Carolina’s defense is 24th in the country in points allowed per game (17.3). The Gamecocks have limited opponents to 17 points or less in three of the first four games this year.

20. Junior defensive back D.J. Smith’s third quarter interception was the first of his career.

21. Senior defensive back Chris Moody set a career-high with nine tackles.

22. Defensive tackle Abu Lamin and linebacker Sherrod Pittman, both suspended earlier this season, traveled to Kentucky. Lamin played, while Pittman did not.

23. Senior punter Sean Kelly had a career-high eight punts in the game for 299 yards.

24. The Gamecocks used their third different uniform combination for their third road game of the season. They trotted out in the all-white “Stormtrooper” look.

25. USC’s captains were Jamari Smith, Chris Lammons, Cory Helms and Zack Bailey.

This story was originally published September 26, 2016 at 11:25 AM with the headline "South Carolina vs. Kentucky: 25 things you might have missed."