South Carolina vs Texas A&M live updates: Gamecocks walloped by Aggies at home
The State’s Ben Breiner is inside Williams-Brice Stadium for Saturday’s South Carolina football game against Texas A&M. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. on ESPN. The Gamecocks are playing a 10-game, SEC-only schedule during the coronavirus-delayed season.
FINAL: Texas A&M 48, South Carolina 3
Coming out of the bye week, South Carolina failed to wash away the memories of a lopsided loss to LSU, instead adding a stinging defeat to Texas A&M. The offense produced just 150 total yards, while the defense was gashed for 530. It was the worst SEC loss for the Gamecocks since 2008.
TD Wright: Texas A&M 48, South Carolina 3
Deep in garbage time with both teams looking ready to pack it in, the Aggies got one final measure of humiliation on the Gamecocks, with reserve tight end Max Wright taking a pass from backup QB Haynes King 42 yards for the last touchdown of the night.
FG White: Texas A&M 41, South Carolina 3
South Carolina avoided its first SEC shutout since 2006 with a late 48-yard field goal from Parker White, set up by a drive led mostly by backup quarterback Ryan Hilinski, who saw his first action of the game.
TD Achane: Texas A&M 41, South Carolina 0
The Aggies put up their sixth drive of 50 or more yards on the game, moving 80 yards and primarily relying on true freshman Devon Achane in place of Isaiah Spiller. He got his second score of the game on a three-yard rush.
End of third quarter: Texas A&M 34, South Carolina 0
Things continued to disintegrate for the Gamecocks in the third quarter, with the offense putting up 34 yards and the defense cracking under the pressure of Texas A&M’s steady, relentless, pounding attack.
TD Achane: Texas A&M 34, South Carolina 0
The Aggies got the ball back after a tipped pass on fourth down turned into an interception for USC’s Collin Hill, and they immediately made the Gamecocks pay with a 52-yard touchdown pass on the first play of its drive, to running back Devon Achane.
TD Mond: Texas A&M 27, South Carolina 0
Texas A&M got the ball to start the second half and marched 75 yards down the field for yet another score. Isaiah Spiller left the game limping after a 36-yard reception, but it made little difference as Devon Achane took over and ran well. Kellen Mond capped it off with an 11-yard touchdown rush. The Aggies did miss the extra point.
HALFTIME: Texas A&M 21, South Carolina 0
Things didn’t get any better for the Gamecock offense in the second quarter — they’re at just 68 total yards at halftime and have been outgained by Texas A&M’s Isaiah Spiller all on his own. They’ve only had the ball for 8:39, as they’ve been forced to attack deep and just flat-out haven’t been able to do it.
On the other side of the ball, Texas A&M isn’t doing anything too fancy, but it is sticking with the run, even after a bad play. That’s let them lean on the Gamecocks and get a little going in the passing game off fakes.
TD Wydermyer: Texas A&M 21, South Carolina 0
A massive 52-yard burst from sophomore running back Isaiah Spiller on a short third down set up the Aggies in the red zone, and quarterback Kellen Mond found tight end Jalen Wydermyer streaking across the field for a seven-yard score, putting South Carolina in a deep hole.
INT Collin Hill
After Texas A&M went up 14-0, South Carolina got the ball and immediately gave it right back to the Aggies, as quarterback Collin Hill overthrew Xavier Legette and put the pass straight into the Aggie safety’s hands on the first play of the drive.
TD Wydermyer: Texas A&M 14, South Carolina 0
Texas A&M doubled its lead with a methodical 10-play, 70-yard drive down the field, capped by a play action pass from Kellen Mond to a wide open Jalen Wydermyer for an easy 15-yard score.
End of first quarter: Texas A&M 7, South Carolina 0
The Gamecocks gained just 35 yards in the first quarter, averaging 2.2 yards per play. After completing his first two passes, quarterback Collin Hill completed just one of his next eight attempts. On the ground, sophomore bell cow running back Kevin Harris has -2 yards on three carries.
TD Smith: Texas A&M 7, South Carolina 0
After a shanked punt from South Carolina’s Kai Kroeger gave Texas A&M favorable field position, the Aggies marched down the field leaning heavily on the run and tailback CJ Spiller. But it was Ainias Smith, a running back/wide receiver, who got the score, catching a four-yard pass from quarterback Kellen Mond.
Key defensive players missing in warmups
Sophomore safeties RJ Roderick and Shilo Sanders have been consistent members of South Carolina’s defensive back rotation, but they were missing in warmups Saturday evening, as was starting defensive end Aaron Sterling. On his pregame radio show, Todd Ellis said Sanders’ injury is to his back, while Sterling has battled a knee injury this year. Also not seen preparing on the field was tight end Keveon Mullins, who hurt his ankle late against LSU.
Early observations
Jay Urich is in the building, wearing his jersey. He was a medical disqualification for a shoulder issue at the start of the year.
Jaheim Bell, who signed with South Carolina as an athlete and is listed as a tight end on the team’s roster, is working with the receivers pregame.
Walk-on linebacker Darryle Ware was out warming up early as well — USC is woefully thin at linebacker with the news that sophomore Jahmar Brown will be out for several weeks due to a knee procedure.
Line jumps hours before kickoff
The betting line for the Gamecocks-Aggies contest opened at 8.5 points in favor of Texas A&M. From there, it dropped slightly and mostly stuck around 7.5 points all week, according to Vegas Insider. Less than two hours before kickoff, however, that margin jumped to 9.5 points on Vegas Insider. That puts it in line with the odds posted by ESPN. South Carolina is 3-1-1 against the spread this season.
Gamecocks sporting classic look for night game
For South Carolina’s annual Military Appreciation Game, it will wear white helmets and pants with garnet jerseys — that’s been the program’s most used uniform combination since the 2000 season.
This story was originally published November 7, 2020 at 6:00 PM.
