GCF players of the game vs Texas A&M
Oct. 23, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA OFFENSE :
• The 17 points in the first quarter by the Gamecocks were the most in a first quarter since scoring 21 against Charleston Southern on Sept. 7, 2019.
• Christian Beal-Smith rushed for his 4th touchdown of the season in the first quarter.
• Marshawn Lloyd rushed for his 8th and 9th touchdowns of the season in the third and fourth quarters.
• Loyd finished with 92 yards on 18 rushes, which were his second-most attempts this season. • His nine rushing touchdowns are 11th all-time in program history for a season.
• Austin Stronger finished with a season-high 46 yards receiving.
• Josh Vann finished with two catches for 41 yards, moving him to 97 and 1,126 for his career.
RB MarShawn Lloyd ran 18 times for 92 yards and had both of South Carolina’s touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters. to keep Texas A&M from climbing back in it. QB Spencer Rattle was 12-of-25 passing for 168 yards for South Carolina, which has won four games in a row for the first time since winning six in a row to finish the 2013 season. But Rattler had his bad moments while TE Austin Stronger finished with a season-high 46 yards receiving.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME ON OFFENSE: RB MarShawn Lloyd and TE Austin Stronger
SOUTH CAROLINA DEFENSE :
• The Gamecocks combined for a season-high 12 pass breakups.
• They combined for nine quarterback hurries on the night, second most this season.
• Darius Rush recorded his first interception of the season and second of his career in the first quarter.
• Rush’s 50-yard interception return is the longest of the season by a Gamecock.
• Rush also recorded his first career forced fumble in the first quarter.
• He led the team with eight tackles, including six solo.
•Zacch Pickens finished with a career-high three quarterback hurries. • Jordan Burch recorded seven tackles on the night, his second-highest output of the season.
• Brad Johnson tied a season-high with six tackles.
• Zacch Pickens finished with a career-high three quarterback hurries.
Gamecock coordinator Clayton White had his defense humming for most of the night, setting the tone early by forcing turnovers on Texas A&M’s first two drives. DB Darius Rush intercepted Haynes King to set up a scoring drive, then A&M fumbled on the second drive of the game. Throughout the contest, the Gamecock defense consistently stood strong in the red zone and on third downs, forcing the Aggies to settle for two field goals in the first half as they tried to climb back into the game. DL Zacch Pickens finished with a career-high three quarterback hurries. Zacch Pickens finished with a career-high three quarterback hurries. and Darius Rush recorded his first interception of the season and second of his career in the first quarter.Rush’s 50-yard interception return is the longest of the season by a Gamecock.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME ON DEFENSE: DL Zacch Pickens, DB Darius Rush
SOUTH CAROLINA SPECIAL TEAMS :
• Xavier Legette returned the opening kick 100 yards for a touchdown.
• It’s the first kickoff returned for a touchdown since Deebo Samuel against Ole Miss (11/3/18)which was also an opening kickof
• It’s the first 100-yard kickoff return since Samuel did it against Western Carolina on Nov. 19, 2016.
• It’s only the fourth 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in program history.
• Mitch Jeter connected on a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter.
• He is now 7-for-7 on the season and 4-for-4 from 20-29 yards.
• Kai Kroger finished with a 49.0 average on six punts, just shy of his season-high of 49.1
The Gamecocks started from the very beginning on Saturday night, with return man and wide receiver Xavier Legette taking the opening kickoff 100 yards to the end zone to open the game. It was the second-longest kickoff return in Gamecock history, behind legend Sterling Sharpe’s 104-yard return in 1985. Beyond the kickoff return, Gamecock punter Kai Kroger pinned the Aggies consistently deep, averaging 49 yards on six punts.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Xavier Legette, Punter punter Kai Kroger
Oct. 23, 2022
SOUTH CAROLINA OFFENSE :
• The 17 points in the first quarter by the Gamecocks were the most in a first quarter since scoring 21 against Charleston Southern on Sept. 7, 2019.
• Christian Beal-Smith rushed for his 4th touchdown of the season in the first quarter.
• Marshawn Lloyd rushed for his 8th and 9th touchdowns of the season in the third and fourth quarters.
• Loyd finished with 92 yards on 18 rushes, which were his second-most attempts this season. • His nine rushing touchdowns are 11th all-time in program history for a season.
• Austin Stronger finished with a season-high 46 yards receiving.
• Josh Vann finished with two catches for 41 yards, moving him to 97 and 1,126 for his career.
RB MarShawn Lloyd ran 18 times for 92 yards and had both of South Carolina’s touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters. to keep Texas A&M from climbing back in it. QB Spencer Rattle was 12-of-25 passing for 168 yards for South Carolina, which has won four games in a row for the first time since winning six in a row to finish the 2013 season. But Rattler had his bad moments while TE Austin Stronger finished with a season-high 46 yards receiving.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME ON OFFENSE: RB MarShawn Lloyd and TE Austin Stronger
SOUTH CAROLINA DEFENSE :
• The Gamecocks combined for a season-high 12 pass breakups.
• They combined for nine quarterback hurries on the night, second most this season.
• Darius Rush recorded his first interception of the season and second of his career in the first quarter.
• Rush’s 50-yard interception return is the longest of the season by a Gamecock.
• Rush also recorded his first career forced fumble in the first quarter.
• He led the team with eight tackles, including six solo.
•Zacch Pickens finished with a career-high three quarterback hurries. • Jordan Burch recorded seven tackles on the night, his second-highest output of the season.
• Brad Johnson tied a season-high with six tackles.
• Zacch Pickens finished with a career-high three quarterback hurries.
Gamecock coordinator Clayton White had his defense humming for most of the night, setting the tone early by forcing turnovers on Texas A&M’s first two drives. DB Darius Rush intercepted Haynes King to set up a scoring drive, then A&M fumbled on the second drive of the game. Throughout the contest, the Gamecock defense consistently stood strong in the red zone and on third downs, forcing the Aggies to settle for two field goals in the first half as they tried to climb back into the game. DL Zacch Pickens finished with a career-high three quarterback hurries. Zacch Pickens finished with a career-high three quarterback hurries. and Darius Rush recorded his first interception of the season and second of his career in the first quarter.Rush’s 50-yard interception return is the longest of the season by a Gamecock.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME ON DEFENSE: DL Zacch Pickens, DB Darius Rush
SOUTH CAROLINA SPECIAL TEAMS :
• Xavier Legette returned the opening kick 100 yards for a touchdown.
• It’s the first kickoff returned for a touchdown since Deebo Samuel against Ole Miss (11/3/18)which was also an opening kickof
• It’s the first 100-yard kickoff return since Samuel did it against Western Carolina on Nov. 19, 2016.
• It’s only the fourth 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in program history.
• Mitch Jeter connected on a 23-yard field goal in the first quarter.
• He is now 7-for-7 on the season and 4-for-4 from 20-29 yards.
• Kai Kroger finished with a 49.0 average on six punts, just shy of his season-high of 49.1
The Gamecocks started from the very beginning on Saturday night, with return man and wide receiver Xavier Legette taking the opening kickoff 100 yards to the end zone to open the game. It was the second-longest kickoff return in Gamecock history, behind legend Sterling Sharpe’s 104-yard return in 1985. Beyond the kickoff return, Gamecock punter Kai Kroger pinned the Aggies consistently deep, averaging 49 yards on six punts.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME ON SPECIAL TEAMS: Xavier Legette, Punter punter Kai Kroger
