South Carolina’s new-look offense not enough as Vols hang on to take 2020 opener
The final moments of the South Carolina football team’s season-opening loss turned on a curious decision and a miscue.
The Gamecocks had driven deep into Tennessee territory but eschewed a fourth and 12 to kick a field goal to cut a seven-point deficit to four with 3:16 left. It almost worked out, with the Gamecocks getting the ball back, but the ensuing punt bounced off gunner Cam Smith.
Tennessee recovered. That was that.
“We put ourselves in a position to win the game,” Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said, “and we didn’t get it done.”
The 31-27 loss Saturday was the second in a row to the Vols and the second in Muschamp’s head coaching career. It’s the second-straight year USC lost an opener, and it had some of the same raggedness of last season’s loss to UNC.
South Carolina’s offense started with some spark Saturday, marching 75 yards for a touchdown on the first possession and looking like the scheme Gamecocks fans hoped to see with another offensive coordinator change. But then they went scoreless on the next six possessions, finishing the half at 3.29 yards per play.
There was also an interception off a tipped pass that was returned for a Vols score. USC quarterback Collin Hill took the blame for that.
“Really just couldn’t get the ball moving,” Hill said. “Couldn’t move the stakes much, and when I think about the first half putting our defense out there for a while, got to play complementary football.”
The Gamecocks offense started to deliver after halftime, but it wasn’t enough. USC rallied from down 21-7 to tie the game at 21-21 and later 24-24.
Then the defense had some issues. Tennessee marched 75 yards in four plays, ending with a 32-yard touchdown pass to put USC down 31-24 with less than 10 minutes left. Star corner Israel Mukuamu was on the sideline the whole drive and his backup, Cam Smith, gave up the score.
Parker White’s 45-yard field goal with 3:16 to go was the game’s last score.
Next week brings a road trip to face a top-5 Florida team, but linebacker Ernest Jones said the team will not be set back emotionally by everything that happened Saturday.
“We got to come in and we got we got nine games left,” Jones said. “We’re going get up and fight, or we’re gonna lay down, and I don’t plan on laying down.”
USC moments
Star of the game: Gamecocks wide receiver Shi Smith carried the offense at times, delivering 140 yards on 10 catches.
Play of the game: A fourth-quarter pass from grad transfer starting quarterback Collin Hill was just off the hands off tight end Nick Muse for what would’ve been a first down as the Gamecocks drove for a game-tying touchdown. That set up the last Gamecocks score, the field goal that got the team to within four.
Stat of the game: Seven sacks or QB pressures from Tennessee’s front. Far too many Gamecocks drives ended with Hill running for his life in big spots.
Quick observations from Gamecocks vs Vols
▪ South Carolina’s tackles and offensive line struggled in a big way. Hill often didn’t have time to set up in the pocket, which limited the drop-back game for stretches.
▪ The Vols were all over South Carolina’s screen game, a crucial part of the Mike Bobo offense. Those plays got blown up repeatedly, which set the Gamecocks behind the sticks more than a few times.
▪ Field position was a bugaboo for South Carolina. USC started four drives with at least 80 yards to go and only one farther out than its own 30. The Vols started four drives past their own 45 and another on their 33.
Next USC football game
Who: South Carolina at Florida
When: Noon, Saturday, Oct. 3
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
TV: ESPN
South Carolina-Tennessee scores, stats
First Quarter
SC—Ke.Harris 3 run (P.White kick), 9:59.
TEN—Guarantano 1 run (Cimaglia kick), 3:07.
Second Quarter
TEN— 32 interception return (Cimaglia kick), 13:22.
Third Quarter
TEN—Gray 12 run (Cimaglia kick), 12:28.
SC—Sh.Smith 29 pass from C.Hill (P.White kick), 10:27.
SC—C.Hill 1 run (P.White kick), 4:32.
TEN—FG Cimaglia 27, 2:18.
Fourth Quarter
SC—FG P.White 35, 10:48.
TEN—Palmer 32 pass from Guarantano (Cimaglia kick), 9:35.
SC—FG P.White 45, 3:16.
PLAYER STATS
RUSHING—Tennessee, Chandler 13-86, Gray 12-40, Guarantano 5-12, (Team) 3-(minus 5). South Carolina, Ke.Harris 13-55, Fenwick 6-31, Z.White 7-19, Sh.Smith 2-(minus 4), C.Hill 7-(minus 15).
PASSING—Tennessee, P.Brooks 1-1-0-2, Guarantano 19-31-0-259. South Carolina, C.Hill 25-39-1-290.
RECEIVING—Tennessee, Palmer 6-85, Jones Jr. 5-29, Bran.Johnson 3-73, Keyton 2-20, Gray 1-31, Fant 1-11, Chandler 1-10, Albright 1-2. South Carolina, Sh.Smith 10-140, Legette 4-61, Muse 4-50, Fenwick 4-45, Ke.Harris 1-9, Z.White 1-(minus 4), C.Hill 1-(minus 11).
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Tennessee, Cimaglia 46.
South Carolina 2020 football schedule
Sept. 26: Tennessee 31, South Carolina 27
Oct. 3: at Florida, noon (ESPN)
Oct. 10: at Vanderbilt
Oct. 17: home vs. Auburn
Oct. 24: at LSU
Oct. 31: OPEN
Nov. 7: home vs. Texas A&M, 7:30 pm (ESPN or SEC Network)
Nov. 14: at Ole Miss
Nov. 21: home vs. Missouri
Nov. 28: home vs. Georgia
Dec. 5: at Kentucky
This story was originally published September 26, 2020 at 10:58 PM.
