GAMECOCKS HOLDOFF TERRIERS
27-20
NEWTON TO START AGAIN
Cory Boyd tied a school-record three rushing
touchdowns, but South Carolina's offensive struggles continued as the
Gamecocks barely escaped with a 27-20 win over Division I-AA Wofford on
Saturday night.
All Boyd's scores came in the first half when
the Gamecocks led 24-10 and looked like they were finally playing the kind of
ball coach Steve Spurrier wanted. Along with Boyd's production, star receiver
Sidney Rice had 110 yards receiving in the half and new quarterback Syvelle
Newton looked in control in his first start under center since 2004. Newton
replaced the suspended Blake Mitchell in the starting lineup.
But Wofford clamped down in the second half
and turned the Gamecocks' lackadaisical play against them. Justin Franklin's
fourth-quarter interception led to Nick Robinson's 28-yard field goal that cut
things to 27-13. Then the Terriers rushed punter Ryan Succop, forcing to throw
the ball away to avoid a safety.
It took one play to stun everyone left at
Williams-Brice Stadium as Josh Collier's 25-yard TD pass to Andy Strickland
drew the Terriers to 27-20 with 4:43 left.
Wofford had one last chance, driving to South
Carolina's 10 with :29 to go. On fourth-and-5, the Gamecocks' Dakota Walker
knocked Collier's pass attempt into the air and linebacker Cody Wells caught
it and South Carolina (2-1) escaped a huge embarrassment.
THE GOOD
Cory Boyd had three rushing
touchdowns Saturday to tie a school record held by many players. The last time
it was accomplished was October 25, 2003, by Dondrial Pinkins against
Vanderbilt. In three games this season, Boyd has 188 rushing yards on 32
attempts, an average of 5.9 yards per carry. Boyd's scores were also USC's
first three rushing touchdowns of the season. Boyd has scored all four of
USC's touchdowns this season. He caught a TD pass from Newton on a trick play
in the season opener.
THE BAD
The Gamecock defense allowed the
Wofford offense to control the ball for 35 minutes of the game on their way to
almost 300 yards rushing.
THE UGLY
Spurrier chastised his team for
playing "stupid" football. Two plays he mentioned were the botched
punt by Ryan Succop and the fumble by Carlos Thomas on a kickoff return that
was, fortunately, recovered by Cory Boyd.
"We make some really stupid plays around here," Spurrier said.
"We really do. I don't know how to explain it. Our punter couldn't get it
off, then Carlos (Thomas) runs up in there (on the kickoff) with reckless
abandon and fumbles. Luckily we got that back. Cory Boyd fell on that one. The
darndest things always seem to happen when we're in position to maybe bury a
team. Just like Missouri. We can't seem to win one by three or four touchdowns
around here."
What concerned Spurrier more, though, was the players' apparent lack of
concern after making a bad play.
"Carlos didn't feel bad about that fumble," Spurrier said. "he
told me he was trying to make a play. I told him we were two touchdowns ahead
with five minutes left. You're not trying to make a play, you're trying to win
a game. He thought, hey, I can run it up in there, spin around backwards, get
nailed. He doesn't know the difference. Somehow or another, we haven't got the
message on how to win the game. It's a struggle."
NEXT GAME
"In all likelihood,
Syvelle's going to start," Spurrier said. "He can make plays with
the pass protection we've got. I think he's got a chance this week when he
takes his steps and lets it go sooner. He was hesitant tonight. He's never
played in this type of system. He can make the throws. I wish he could have
thrown 40 passes tonight."
FLORIDA ATLANTIC (0-3, 0-0
Sun Belt)
Head Coach: Howard Schnellenberger (Kentucky, '56)
Overall/Yrs: 126-101-3 (.554) / (.398)/ 22nd Season
FA/Yrs: 28-33 (.459) / 6th Season
2006 Schedule: 9/2-at Clemson (L 54-6); 9/9-atKansas State (L, 45-0);
9/16-at Oklahoma State (L, 48-8); 9/23-at South Carolina; 9/30-at
La-Monroe;10/12- SOUTHERN UTAH; 10/18-LOUISIANA LAYFAYETTE; 10/28-ARKANSAS
STATE; 11/4-at MTSU; 11/11-TROY; 11/18-at North Texas; 11/25-FIU.
National Rankings: N/A
Formations: Offense - Pro-Set • Defense - 4-3
Key Players
QB Sean Clayton (6-5, 225, Jr., Poland,
Ohio)
Clayton led the Owls as the starting quarterback against Oklahoma State...
Clayton played enough winning football against Clemson to earn the job... He
was 12-for-22 with one INT and 112 yards...In 2005, Played his way into the
no. 2 quarterback spot and then capitalized on his first start with a 26-23
victory over the reigning Sun Belt Champion.
WR Frantz Simeon (5-10, 185, So., Lake
Park, Fla.)
Tallied 18 receptions for 274 yards and two TDs in 2005....career longest
reception is 35 yards...Made his freshman debut at Kansas with four tackles
for a total of 31 yards and recorded the first of his two frosh
touchdowns...had two more games with 30+ yards, 37 versus Louisville and 33
one game later at Louisiana-Lafayette.
RB Charles Pierre (5-9, 195, So., Orlando,
Fla.)
Played in 11 games both as the starter and as the back-up running back...ended
the season tops among the rushers...took advantage of 145 carries for 517
yards and three TDs...longest run of the season was a 28-yard scamper against
Louisville...had double-digit carries seven times...flirted with 100 yards
against Louisiana-Lafayette with 94 yards and against North Texas with 84.
DL Kris Bartels (5-10, 200, Jr.,
Hollywood, Fla.)
Secured a starting safety spot...led the team in tackles twice, versus Kansas
and Middle Tennessee...was among the top two game tacklers four
times...career-high performance was against Middle Tennessee with three solos
and 12 assists for a total of 15 tackles, also had two for a loss of five
yards in the same game.
