NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Despite the assurance from Marcus Lattimore that he was completely healthy and ready to go for Thursday night’s opener against Vanderbilt, questions lingered over whether the junior could return to his old form after a knee injury ended his 2011 season.
The first time the former Byrnes standout touched the ball he certainly didn’t help his case, fumbling to give Vanderbilt great field position and a chance to take the lead.
But from that point forward, Lattimore answered all the questions in a big way, rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns in his first game action since last October to lead the Gamecocks to a 17-13 win against Vanderbilt. Lattimore also led USC in receptions and receiving yards, finishing with three catches for 21 yards.
“You know after that first play, it wasn’t a good play and I hated that happened. But I just had to forget about it,” Lattimore said. “After a few runs, I started to feel like myself again. (I was) really, really nervous, knowing I was about to get hit for the first time.”
The nerves left quickly as Lattimore rushed for a 29-yard touchdown on his next carry to give Carolina a 7-0 lead. He showed a quick burst as he raced through the line and juked two defenders near the goal line to get in for the score.
He also regained his role as Carolina’s closer, rushing nine times for 44 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“That’s been kind of a repeating thing in the past two years. If we let them hang around we’ve got to run the ball and get out of here,” he said.
USC quarterback Connor Shaw said it was great having his backfield partner back on the field for the first time since he suffer a torn ACL and cartilage damage to his left knee last season at Mississippi State.
“It was so nice. I knew that he was going to be able to come out here and pick up where he left off. He had a great game tonight,” Shaw said.
link: http://bleacherrepor...rolina-football
The first time the former Byrnes standout touched the ball he certainly didn’t help his case, fumbling to give Vanderbilt great field position and a chance to take the lead.
But from that point forward, Lattimore answered all the questions in a big way, rushing for 110 yards and two touchdowns in his first game action since last October to lead the Gamecocks to a 17-13 win against Vanderbilt. Lattimore also led USC in receptions and receiving yards, finishing with three catches for 21 yards.
“You know after that first play, it wasn’t a good play and I hated that happened. But I just had to forget about it,” Lattimore said. “After a few runs, I started to feel like myself again. (I was) really, really nervous, knowing I was about to get hit for the first time.”
The nerves left quickly as Lattimore rushed for a 29-yard touchdown on his next carry to give Carolina a 7-0 lead. He showed a quick burst as he raced through the line and juked two defenders near the goal line to get in for the score.
He also regained his role as Carolina’s closer, rushing nine times for 44 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.
“That’s been kind of a repeating thing in the past two years. If we let them hang around we’ve got to run the ball and get out of here,” he said.
USC quarterback Connor Shaw said it was great having his backfield partner back on the field for the first time since he suffer a torn ACL and cartilage damage to his left knee last season at Mississippi State.
“It was so nice. I knew that he was going to be able to come out here and pick up where he left off. He had a great game tonight,” Shaw said.
link: http://bleacherrepor...rolina-football
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