Gamecocks hang on
for 23-13 win over Terriers
COLUMBIA, S.C.
(AP) -- Quarterback Chris Smelley had 204 yards passing as South Carolina
struggled before putting away Wofford 23-13 on Saturday night.
Playing a Football Championship Subdivision
team was not the answer for South Carolina's offensive woes. The Gamecocks
(2-2) managed just two touchdowns, and the crowd booed coach Steve
Spurrier's offense twice in the second half when it settled for field goals.
South Carolina did gain 376 yards and never
punted, but Smelley threw two interceptions and fumbled. Spurrier stuck with
the sophomore the whole game, even after more boos rained down when he
overthrew everyone in the end zone in the third quarter.
Coaching the Gamecocks has been a different
world for the coach who brought the world the "Fun 'N Gun" at
Florida, where Spurrier would beat teams in what used to be called Division
I-AA by scores like 62-14 over Georgia Southern in 1996.
This one wasn't out of reach until the
Gamecocks put together a grinding drive of nearly 6 minutes in the fourth
quarter that ended with Smelley's 17-yard touchdown pass to Dion LeCorn put
South Carolina ahead 23-13 with 1:58 to go.
The Terriers (2-1) never strayed from their
patient option running game. They ran for 185 yards, well under their
average of 400 yards. Fullback Dane Romero led the team with 75 yards on 17
carries, while quarterback Ben Widmyer ran 10 times for 59 yards and
completed 8 of 13 passes for 100 yards.
Wofford gave South Carolina fits in 2006,
when the Gamecocks had to stop the Terriers on fourth down at South
Carolina's 10 to escape with a 27-20 win. The Terriers never led in that
one.
On Saturday, they took a 7-3 lead early in
the second quarter on Widmyer's 50-yard scoring run. Two Gamecocks defenders
took the pitch man on the option, leaving Widmyer to scamper untouched into
the end zone.
South Carolina responded with a quick drive
that ended with three Brian Maddox runs, the last one 7 yards for a TD, to
put the Gamecocks back ahead 10-7.
The Gamecocks moved the ball for most of
the game, but struggled to get into the end zone. An 18-play, 75-yard drive
ended with a 22-yard field goal from Ryan Succop that put South Carolina
ahead 3-0.
Spurrier used several players who hadn't
seen a lot of playing time this season. Freshman Eric Baker hadn't carried
the ball before Saturday, but ended with 49 yards on 11 carries.
Maddox led the Gamecocks with 12 carries
for 52 yards, while starting tailback Mike Davis caught six passes for 51
yards. South Carolina didn't have a passing play gain more than 20 yards.
The Gamecocks have lost to FCS teams
before. The Citadel beat them 38-35 in 1990 and Furman won 28-23 in 1982.
Wofford is 1-11 against teams from the
Football Bowl Subdivision, with the only win coming over Louisiana-Monroe in
2000. The Terriers did take home $230,000 for making the trip to
Williams-Brice Stadium.
