South Carolina Hammers No. 5 Tennessee 63-38 with videos stats, quotes, notes, and more

FOOTBALL. NOVEMBER 19, 2022

South Carolina Hammers No. 5 Tennessee 63-38 with videos stats, quotes, notes, and more​

VIDEOS COURTESY OF USC SPORTS MEDIA OUTLET

Tennessee AT South Carolina(9 - 2 - 0, 5 - 2 - 0)(7 - 4 - 0, 4 - 4 - 0)​

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Spencer Rattler had the best day of his unpredictable career, throwing for 438 yards and five touchdowns as South Carolina beat No. 5 Tennessee 63-38 on Saturday night, all but eliminating the Volunteers from the playoffs.

Tennessee had a Heisman Trophy candidate in Hendon Hooker. The senior quarterback, who threw for 247 yards and three touchdowns, left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury. Heupel didn’t have any details on the injury. But the Vols didn’t resemble that team on Saturday, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The Gamecocks piled up 606 yards of total offense, including Rattler’s 438 yards and six touchdowns. Rattler resembled the quarterback who was a Heisman Trophy candidate while at Oklahoma. His 438 yards were a career-high and his six touchdown passes almost equaled his season total of eight coming into the game, “Spencer is a talented guy,” Heupel said. “At times, when he has gotten hot, he plays hot. Tonight he was.”

Tennessee (9-2, 6-2 Southeastern, No. 5 CFP) may have also lost Heisman Trophy candidate Hendon Hooker, who left the game in the fourth quarter with a leg injury, falling and fumbling without being hit. Even before the injury, the quarterback of the night was Rattler, who went from Heisman contender to the bench at Oklahoma in 2021. The junior finally lived up to the potential fans of South Carolina (7-4, 4-4) hoped for when he arrived.

Rattler came into the night with nine interceptions and eight touchdowns and averaging 198 yards a game passing. There were questions asked about whether the Gamecocks might want to test out the backup. But the junior was patient in the pocket, dropping passes into the narrowest of windows.

He ran when he had to with five carries for 16 yards. And he even caught a pass in the red zone from Dakeron Joyner, who South Carolina typically uses as a running threat under center. Rattler’s best day before Saturday was 387 yards against Kansas State for Oklahoma in 2020 and five TDs for the Sooners against Western Carolina in 2021. Antwane Wells Jr. caught 11 passes for 177 yards and Josh Vann and Jaheim Bell each caught two touchdowns for the Gamecocks.

The Tennessee defense could do almost nothing to stop the 11th best offense in the SEC. The Gamecocks gained 606 yards after failing to get over 300 yards in three of their past four games.The 63 points were the most the Vols have ever allowed in an SEC game, eclipsing the 62-37 loss to Steve Spurrier’s Florida in 1995.

Hooker was 25 of 42 for 247 yards and three TDs before his injury. There was no immediate word on the severity of his hurt leg, but he did not return to the game. Joe Milton III took over at QB for the Vols when Hooker went down, turning the ball over on downs after driving into the red zone then leading a four-play 75-yard scoring drive in the final two minutes.

South Carolina honored its seniors on Saturday. Receiver Dakereon Joyner, receiver Jalen Brooks and defensive lineman Zacch Pickens were among those who went through Senior Day festivities at Williams-Brice Stadium ahead of South Carolina’s scheduled tilt against No. 5 Tennessee.


Here’s the full list of Gamecocks who participated:

Nate Adkins
Matthew Bailey
Christian Beal-Smith
Jalen Brooks
Wyatt Cambell
Eric Douglas
Sherrod Greene
Jovaughn Gwyn
Brad Johnson
Dakereon Joyner
Hank Manos
Jakai Moore
Zacch Pickens
Devonni Reed
Darius Rush
Austin Stogner
Jordan Strachan
Josh Vann
Chad Terrell
MJ Webb
Dylan Wonnum