Spiller opened
the game with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, an NCAA record-
setting seventh of his career. But the Gamecocks (7-5) bottled up
Spiller and Clemson’s high-scoring offense after that to end the Tigers’
six-game win streak—and their dominance in the rivalry.
Clemson (8-4) had won two straight, six out of
seven and 10 of 12 against the Gamecocks, who had only one victory over
the Tigers in the last 10 games at Williams-Brice Stadium.
That changed against a South Carolina defense
ranked third in the Southeastern Conference and fresh from a week off.
Clemson had just 260 yards of offense, well off
the more than 415 it averaged the past six games. Spiller finished with
18 yards rushing and 19 receiving.
South Carolina fans chanted “S-E-C” as the
outcome became clear.
The ACC’s Atlantic Division champs head into
next week’s conference title game against Georgia Tech with several
questions to answer. No. 1 among them: What happened to the offense?
The orange-clad fans among the 80,574 in the
stands had little reason to doubt it’d be another day to celebrate when
Spiller cut left and glided to his fourth kick return score this season
less than 20 seconds in.
But the Tigers had only 138 yards through three
quarters and looked nothing like the team that stormed its way to its
first division title by scoring more than 40 points a game since
mid-October.
There were interceptions, fumbles and penalties
galore that helped South Carolina score 17 points in the opening half,
more than it had in any of its last five games.
Jamie Harper’s fumble turned into a
1-yard touchdown run by
Brian Maddox to tie things.
Kyle Parker’s first interception in three games
followed on Clemson’s next drive, with freshman Devonte Hollomon
returning it 54 yards to the Tigers 11.
Garcia connected with tight
end Weslye Saunders for the go-ahead score from 9 yards out.
If you needed proof this was the Gamecocks’ day,
it came a series later.
Ricky Sapp had a roughing penalty on a punt to
keep another Gamecocks drive going. That one ended with Spencer Lanning
clanging a 47-yard field goal off the right upright.
Garcia clinched things in the third quarter with a 14-yard touchdown
throw to a wide-open Tori Gurley.
Spiller fumbled on the Tigers’ first possession
of the second half, and Clemson got just one first down its next three
series.
The victory ended what looked like another
late-season swoon in Steve Spurrier’s fifth year as Gamecocks coach.
In 2007, South Carolina opened 6-1 and lost its
last five. A year ago, a 7-3 start was ruined by three straight defeats
down the stretch.
The Gamecocks were 6-2 a month ago after beating
Vanderbilt 14-10. Losses to Tennessee, Arkansas and top-ranked Florida
had Spurrier fielding uncomfortable questions about playcalling and his
future.
Spurrier, testily at times, preached patience
and reminded critics his team’s best days were down the road. That
showed against the Tigers.
