USC 28 - Florida 20: Thoughts on Win #7
2nd in the East
A win against Florida is a great thing, regardless of whether they're in the midst of one of their worst seasons this century. Here's some thoughts.
- The Gamecocks are now 9-26-3 against the Gators, but have won 5 of the last 8 in the series.
- With a final conference record of 5-3, the Gamecocks have secured their 4th best ever result against against SEC opponents. They went 6-2 each year from 2011-2013, and finished 5-3 in 2000, 2001, 2005, and 2010.
- The Gamecocks are now guaranteed to at least tie for 2nd in the SEC East. When Kentucky loses to Georgia this weekend SC will have sole possession of that position. That is a fantastic result in year 2 of a major rebuild.
- This was a game that the Gamecocks dominated on both sides of the ball for the entire contest. The Defense forced 5 three-and-outs, and held the Gators to 2 of 15 on 3rd Down conversions. On Offense the Gamecocks were able to run the ball seemingly at will, and were also effective in the passing game. Bentley's 3 interceptions (only 2 of which really had an impact on the game) were what kept this one close.
⬆️ On the rise ⬆️` pic.twitter.com/stpJMnUAjt
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) November 13, 2017
Teriyaki Chicken Wings
After every SC win I'll hand out a dozen wings to the players most responsible for the victory.
A.J. Turner
A.J. had his best game as a Gamecock and was nearly unstoppable (until late in the 4th Quarter at least). Turner had 136 yards on 21 carries, for an average of 6.2 yards / carry. He also added 3 receptions for 36 yards. This guy just keeps getting better and better, and although he's a small guy, he can lay down a lick on defenders past the line of scrimmage. I think the key to A.J.'s success is elite balance. Get excited that this guy is only on a sophomore.
Proven results 🤙 pic.twitter.com/UWmcP8UaG0
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) November 13, 2017
South Carolina RB A.J. Turner ran wild today against Florida. pic.twitter.com/N4JBbOE6fQ
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) November 11, 2017
Hayden Hurst
Finished just 1 yard shy of the team lead in receiving yards, with 59 yards on 5 receptions. One of those receptions was a one-handed circus catch on a ball that should never have been thrown. He also ran the ball once on the Hayden Hurst TE Sweep™ for 11 yards and a 1st Down. His most important contribution, however, may have been forcing a fumble at the 1-yard line on what was a sure pick-6 for Florida.
Mon Denson
Another RB had the best game of his career against the Gators. Mon had 61 yards on 13 carries on the day, found the end zone for the first time ever, and then found it again.
Taylor Stallworth
Stallworth was a major part of the SC DL controlling the line of scrimmage the entire contest. He only ended up with one tackle, but had 5 QB hurries and knocked down a pass.
Jamyest Williams
Left the game with a shoulder injury early on, but came back to finish with 5 tackles and a TFL. He sealed the win with an interception of a tipped ball at the end of the 4th Quarter.
OrTre Smith
Led the team in receiving, catching 5 balls for 60 yards.
Jacob August
Only caught one pass, but had a great day blocking and was a big part of many explosive runs for the Gamecocks.
Alan Knott
The Gamecocks don't rush for 220 yards without good play on the offensive line. Alan Knott has been great this season.
That's all I've got for this week. I would like to give a final shout out to the lady of the house, who has been doing pretty well with her predictions of late. She expected the Gamecocks to win 28-21 in this one, and nailed the Vanderbilt half of the forecast the previous week. Not bad for a girl who witnessed her first ever live football game this past Saturday. Watch the full game again below.