SMELLEY, NORWOOD RALLY
GAMECOCKS 38-21
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)
-- Freshman Chris Smelley threw for a career-best 279 yards and two
touchdowns to lead No. 16 South Carolina to a 38-21 victory over Mississippi
State on Saturday.
Smelley was given the starting job by coach
Steve Spurrier before the Gamecocks (4-1, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) left
the locker room at LSU's Death Valley last week after a 28-16 loss.
And Smelley's play made Spurrier look like
a genius - again.
Smelley, who replaced fifth-year senior
Blake Mitchell, connected with receiver Kenny McKinley on touchdown passes
of 20 and 27 yards, the latter which put South Carolina ahead for good,
24-21, with 3:43 left in the third quarter.
The Gamecocks' defense also looked strong
without its best player in injured middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley.
Brinkley, who damaged a knee ligament in last week's LSU defeat, had
season-ending surgery this past Wednesday.
The Gamecocks gave up only 45 rushing by
halftime in stopping Mississippi State (3-2, 1-2), which came to
Williams-Brice Stadium with a three-game winning streak.
Mike Davis added two of his three rushing
touchdowns (3, 2 and 12 yards) for South Carolina in the final quarter.
The Bulldogs looked like they had taken the
game over in the third quarter. Anthony Dixon's second TD run from 2 yards
out put Mississippi State ahead 21-17. Then its defense held, forcing the
Gamecocks into a missed 50-yard field goal try.
However, South Carolina defensive lineman
Eric Norwood blocked Blake McAdams' punt.
One play later, Smelley hit McKinley with a
perfect throw and the junior wideout spun out of a tackle and into the end
zone for the go-ahead score.
McKinley finished with four catches for 107
yards, his second game over 100 yards receiving this season.
Smelley was 19 of 37 with an interception.
His previous high in yardage came last week with 174 yards in relief of
Mitchell.
Dixon led the Bulldogs with 83 yards and
his two rushing scores. Mississippi State didn't do much through the air
against the Gamecocks with 118 yards.
Quarterback Josh Riddell was 9 of 21 for
101 yards and an interception.
South Carolina figured to be tested on
defense with standout linebacker Jasper Brinkley in a wheelchair after
season-ending surgery on his knee.
Things seemed worse for the Gamecocks once
the game began as leading rusher Cory Boyd grabbed his right knee after the
first play and rolled around on the ground in pain. But after icing down the
knee, and talking with coach Spurrier, Boyd returned to action later in the
period.
He also figured in on one of Spurrier's
tricks right before halftime that put South Carolina out front.
Boyd took a flip from tight end Jared Cook
after a completion from Smelley for 16 yards on third-and-20. On the next
play, Ryan Succop hit a 45-yard field, his sixth straight this season, to
send the Gamecocks into the break with the lead.
Boyd ended with 58 yards on 11 attempts.
Davis went for 59 yards on 18 carries.
