GAMECOCKFANATICS PLAYERS OF THE GAME: South Carolina vs Appalachian State
Final: Appalachian State Mountaineers (8-1) 20 - South Carolina Gamecocks (4-6) 15
South Carolina turned in a lackluster performance against a quality non-conference opponent tonight in losing to Appalachian State 20-15. The loss drops the Gamecocks to 4-6, and barring miracles for the rest of the season, ensures that the team will stay home this holiday bowl season. Rash of Injury is once again the reason for the loss, as this time the team came in with starters Shi Smith nursing a hamstring, and Josh Vann out for the season with a broken hand. Top receiver Bryan Edwards was also out for much of the game with injury, although he came back for the 2nd half.
The team however was reduced to relying on former/current QBs Dakereon Joyner and Jay Urich, and a walk-on in Trey Adkins to be targets for Ryan Hilinski, until Edwards returned. The run game - which did have some depth - was essentially a non-factor, making the need to throw the ball even more desperate. But despite the final offensive possessions of the game which produced a scoring drive and another that saw the game end with the Gamecocks a mere 9 yards from the end-zone and a improbably come-from-behind win, the Gamecocks were not able to generate much scoring offense all night long.
The Gamecocks will now head on the road next week to College Station, Texas to take on Texas A&M, kickoff at 7:30 pm. The players of the game for this week, beginning with the Gamecocks’ picks:
OFFENSE
WR Bryan Edwards: Edwards has won most of these picks this season I believe, but he has been possibly the one Gamecock on offense that consistently stepped up this season. Despite missing ample time in the game with a knee injury, he still finished with 9 receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown. With his yardage, Bryan became the top career yardage receiver in program history, moving past Alshon Jeffrey. Enough said.
Honorable Mention: QB Ryan Hilinski. Hilinski was 32 for 57 for 325 yards, the lone touchdown to Edwards, and an interception. A large percentage of the passing yardage came in the final two offensive drives of the game. The interception was very critical in the game, as it was a pick-six touchdown deep in South Carolina territory in the first half, but really Edwards and Hilinski were the only substantial offensive producers in the game.
DEFENSE
LB Ernest Jones: Jones led the Gamecocks defense with 10 total tackles – 8 of them solo – with 2 tackles for loss, 1 QB sack, and 1 interception.
Honorable mention: LB Sherrod Greene: Greene was 2nd with 7 total tackles - 5 of them solo – with 3 tackles for loss and one half credit for a QB sack.
For Appalachian State
OFFENSE
RB Darrynton Evans: Evans was consistent throughout the game – 23 carries for 85 yards, albeit no touchdowns. But he was able to provide the Mountaineers the rushing half of offensive balance they needed to be effective, despite the fact that App. State was held to only 202 total yards for the game.
Honorable Mention: QB Zac Thomas: Thomas was a workmanlike 9-15 for 105 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception. He also scored a rushing touchdown.
DEFENSE
LB Jordan Fehr: Fehr led the Mountaineers defense with 12 total tackles – 6 solo – with 2 tackles for loss and one sack.
Honorable Mention: DB Nicholas Ross: Ross had only 2 solo tackles, but also grabbed a pick-six interception off of Hilinski late in the first half that changed the feel of the game and gave the Mountaineers great momentum heading into the halftime break that they would not surrender for the rest of the game.
