South Carolina vs. Tennessee game live updates: Turnover ends USC’s comeback
The State’s Ben Breiner is inside Williams-Brice Stadium for Saturday’s 2020 South Carolina opener against Tennessee. The game kicks off at 7:30 pm on SEC Network.
The Gamecocks are playing a 10-game, SEC-only schedule during the coronavirus-delayed season. Capacity has been greatly reduced at stadiums and inside their press boxes. Follow the score and our updates here.
Final: Tennessee 31, South Carolina 27
The Gamecoks held the Vols and were going to get the ball back after a Tennessee punt but the ball hit Cam Smith’s leg and Tennessee recovered it to seal the win.
White FG: Tennessee 31, South Carolina 27
The Gamecocks were unable to finish off a promising drive after a penalty and tight end Nick Muse just missed a first-down pass.
Parker White brings the Gamecocks closer with a 45-yard kick, but the clock is ticking for USC with 3:16 left.
Palmer TD: Tennessee 31, South Carolina 24
Vols quarterback Jarrett Guarantano showed off his arm on this drive, hitting receiver Brandon Johnson for 33 yards then following up with a 32-yard strike to leading receiver Josh Palmer for the touchdown with 9:35 left.
White FG: South Carolina 24, Tennessee 24
After a difficult first half, the USC offensive line finally opened up some running lanes for tailback Kevin Harris, who picked up chunk gains of 10 and 13 yards on the ground.
Hill and the Gamecocks weren’t able to finish off the drive in the end zone, however, as Hill absorbed his fourth sack of the game on third down. Parker White’s 35-yard field goal tied the contest with 10:48 left.
Cimaglia FG: Tennessee 24, South Carolina 21
After missing his first kick of the night, Cimaglia redeemed himself with a 27-yard score to give the Vols the lead late in the third quarter.
Hill TD: South Carolina 21, Tennessee 21
Collin Hill seems to have found a rhythm, as he connected on multiple first downs with tight end Nick Muse.
Back-to-back checkdown passes to tailback Deshaun Fenwick set up a one-yard keeper for Hill to tie the game with less than five minutes left in the third quarter.
Smith TD: Tennessee 21, South Carolina 14
The Shi Smith-Collin Hill connection looks strong in Game 1, as Smith’s eighth catch of the night went for a 29-yard touchdown.
Smith is up to 113 receiving yards on the night and has been Hill’s clear favorite target.
Gray TD: Tennessee 21, South Carolina 7
The Vols put up big yards on the ground against the Gamecocks, putting together an eight-play, 74-yard drive to open the second half.
Ty Chandler did most of the work, carrying the ball five times before Eric Gray rushed for a 12-yard score.
USC offense struggles after opening drive
South Carolina offense had 75 yards and a TD on its opening drive but managed just 18 yards over the next 27 plays. Tennessee also sacked Collin Hill three times.
“We got to protect the quarterback better,” South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said during a radio interview at halftime.
To’o To’o TD: Tennessee 14, South Carolina 7
USC quarterback Collin Hill threw a bullet pass to Shi Smith on a quick pass that bounced off his hands and landed in star linebacker Henry To’o To’o’s arms, who ran the ball back 32 yards for a TD.
Gamecock fans irate over officiating
There were a pair of non-calls by officials in the first quarter that had South Carolina fans up in arms.
On Tennessee’s scoring drive, it looked like USC linebacker Ernest Jones was held on a play that went for 31 yards. The next drive, South Carolina receiver Shi Smith appeared to be interferred with on a third down but there was no call.
Guarantano TD: Tennessee 7, South Carolina 7
The Vols tied the game on a quarterback keeper by Jarrett Guarantano.
Tennessee produced an impressive drive that included a one-handed catch by wide receiver Brandon Johnson and a 31-yard completion on a flea-flicker by running back Eric Gray to the 1-yard line.
Shi Smith hot start
Receiver Shi Smith had three catches for 46 yards on South Carolina’s opening drive.
Smith has more yards than he had in all but three games last season. His lone 100-yard game last year came against Tennessee when he had 11 catches for 156 yards.
Harris TD: South Carolina 7, Tennessee 0
The Gamecocks scored their first touchdown of the season on a 3-yard run by Kevin Harris.
Led by new quarterback Collin Hill, USC marched methodically down the field, leaning on veteran wide receiver Shi Smith and Harris out of the backfield.
Jakai Moore to get first crack at tackle
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said during his pre-game interview with Todd Ellis that redshirt freshman Jakai Moore will get first chance to start at right tackle.
Moore, Jaylen Nichols and Vershon Lee were all listed as potential starters on the team’s depth chart released earlier this week. Muschamp all three probably will play on Saturday.
Moore appeared in three games last season and made two starts.
Vols missing defensive lineman
Tennessee will be without defensive lineman Darrel Middleton for Saturday’s game.
Middleton posted on his Twitter page that he won’t be playing in the opener against the Gamecocks.
“Due to health issues. I wont be playing today. But back next week after a couple check ups. Ready to go. I’m on the edge of my seat tonight!” Middleton tweeted.
Middleton, a senior, played in all 13 games last year with the Vols and had 28 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack.
Tickets still available for game
More than a 1,000 tickets to the game remained on South Carolina’s website two hours before Saturday’s contest.
South Carolina was allowing up to 20,000 fans for the opener. The school had made around 15,000 season tickets available, with the other 5,000 in capacity allowing for opposing fans, students, band members and others in the stadium.
Earlier this week, USC offered 1,100 additional student tickets for the game, school officials said. That nearly doubles the 1,300 student tickets that were originally available. The additional Gamecocks football tickets will not increase the coronavirus-limited capacity of the stadium, and are being offered because season ticket demand has declined, USC spokesman Larry Thomas said.
This story was originally published September 26, 2020 at 5:58 PM.
