USC QB Connor Mitch likely out for season

South Carolina junior Perry Orth has been preparing like he was the starter despite losing the preseason competition for the job. That’ll come in handy because Orth now is the starter after Connor Mitch suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday’s night’s 26-22 loss to Kentucky.

“I have worked very hard to give myself the best chance to succeed,” Orth said. “I am just going to continue what I have been doing the first two weeks.”

Orth was 13-of-20 passing for 179 yards after replacing Mitch late in the first half. Mitch was injured trying to recover a fumbled option toss. He probably won’t return this season, Spurrier said.

Freshman quarterback Lorenzo Nunez rotated with Orth in the second half but did not throw a pass. Nunez ran twice for 40 yards.

Switch

Carlton Heard had a new number for the second time this season.

Heard, who began the year in No. 83, switched to No. 17 before the season-opener. He was in No. 9 on Saturday.

Ulric Jones, switched to offensive line last week, was listed as a tight end on Saturday. Jamari Smith wore No. 83 as a new addition to the wide receivers. Mason Zandi, as he said he would, wore No. 51 to honor his friend Cody Waldrop, who is out indefinitely with a broken bone in his ankle.

Take a bow

USC’s newest Athletic Hall of Fame class was honored at halftime. The class includes baseball’s Greg Ward and David Marchbanks, softball’s Karen Sanchelli Johns, men’s soccer’s Mark Berson, football’s Kenny McKinley and Sheldon Brown, women’s track and field’s Miki Barber and men’s basketball’s Devan Downey.

Brown was the celebrity starter and Downey, a notorious Kentucky killer, made sure to give a few extra pump-up gestures at halftime.

Painted up

Williams-Brice Stadium had a new field decoration besides the massive upgrades outside the stadium. A Gamecock Club logo was painted on each 25-yard-line, along with the standard SEC logos.

The logo was in recognition of the Club’s 75th anniversary and for Gamecock Club Appreciation Day. The usual Palmetto tree and crescent moon logos, tinged in garnet, will be restored for the next home game.

Welcome back

Four South Carolina natives returned to their home state wearing blue. Blake Bone (Woodruff), Farrington Huguenin (Columbia), Cory Johnson (Columbia) and Tavin Richardson (Duncan) were each on the travel roster. All but Richardson played.

Captains

The Gamecocks’ captains were Mike Matulis, Isaiah Johnson, Brandon Wilds and Skai Moore.

Red cross report

CB Chris Lammons, as expected, did not dress after twisting his knee during the week. QB Connor Mitch sprained his right shoulder diving on a fumble in the second quarter and did not return.

This story was originally published September 13, 2015 at 12:07 AM with the headline "USC QB Connor Mitch likely out for season."