USC 49 - Coastal Carolina 15: Thoughts on Win #1

Finally Dominating an Inferior Opponent

This was a game that in the past few years, and even going back into the Spurrier era, South Carolina would have let a weaker opponent hang around in the game until finally using superior talent to pull away in the 4th Quarter. It was refreshing, therefore, to see such competency, especially on Offense, from the opening kick. The Gamecocks were able to score TDs on 7 of 9 possessions in the game, with the Jake Bentley-led first team Offense scoring on 6 of 7. The Defense was able to hold Coastal to only 238 yards of total offense and 3.2 yards per rushing attempt. That is hard to do regardless of the opponent. Muschamp's teams have always looked well prepared in each of the past two season openers, but it was evident in this one that the overall talent level of the team has certainly been improved. The most noticeable improvement to me was the play of the Offensive Line. According to Pro Football Focus the SC O-line was the best run blocking unit in the nation during the first week of play. We haven't heard anything like that about SC O-line play since maybe 2014. I don't have much else to say about the win; we were supposed to win big and we did. We get to find out very soon if this team is going to compete for the division title.

Teriyaki Chicken Wings

After every Gamecocks win I'll hand out a dozen wings to the players most responsible for the victory.

Jake Bentley

Bentley was outstanding, completing 75.9% of his passing attempts for 250 yards and 4 TDs (a career best). Jake looked very confident and appeared to be in complete control of the new-and-improved Offense.

Rico Dowdle

105 yards rushing and a TD on 15 carries? Another TD receiving at the end of the 1st Half? That gets Rico multiple wings.

Rico Dowdle finds a big hole on the right side and runs through a tackler down to the 5 yard line. Video from SEC Network Audio from 107.5 The Game Commentary by Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs

Deebo Samuel

Deebo Samuel returns and does Deebo Samuel things.

Jake Bentley throws the fade and Deebo Samuel makes an incredible one-handed catch for the touchdown. Video from SEC Network Audio from 107.5 The Game Commentary by Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs

Ty'Son Williams

Rushed for 7.5 yards per attempt and scored a TD.

Ty'Son Williams with another big run in the 4th quarter. Video from SEC Network Audio from 107.5 The Game Commentary by Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs

Michael Scarnecchia

Back when Scarnecchia and I shared some classes together at USC in the early 2000s we used to talk about how great it would be when he finally got some game action and threw his first TD pass. Great job, Mike, you're living the dream.

Michael Scarnecchia throws it into the endzone and Randrecous Davis makes the catch through the arms of a defender. Video from SEC Network Audio from 107.5 The Game Commentary by Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs

Jaycee Horn

In his first college game did not look anything like a freshman, and was even able to grab a sack.

Jaycee Horn's first sack as a Gamecock. Video from SEC Network Audio from 107.5 The Game Commentary by Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs

Bryan Edwards

Got an easy 24-yard TD reception in the 2nd Quarter.

Very nice playaction pass by Jake Bentley to Bryan Edwards for the score. Video from SEC Network Audio from 107.5 The Game Commentary by Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs

Bryson Allen-Williams

Accounted for 3 TFLs with a sack in his first game back in action. Instead of a game ball, nearly received Chanticleer QB Kilton Anderson's head as a trophy.

Bryson Allen-Williams sacks Kilton Anderson. Video from SEC Network Audio from 107.5 The Game Commentary by Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs

Rosendo Louis

Recovered a fumble on one of his first few snaps as a Gamecock.

CCU Alex James fumbles the option pitch and Rosendo Louis recovers the football. Video from SEC Network Audio from 107.5 The Game Commentary by Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs

Randrecous Davis

The oft injured receiver snagged his first TD reception with a phenomenal catch in the 4th Quarter.

Kiel Pollard

Took his first ball into the end zone on a busted play pass from Bentley.

Jake Bentley scrambles out of the pocket and dumps of a pass to Kiel Pollard who spins his way into the endzone. Video from SEC Network Audio from 107.5 The Game Commentary by Todd Ellis and Tommy Suggs

That's all I've got for the win over the Chanticleers. Watch the game again below.

Uploaded by Gamecock Videos on 2018-09-04.