Yahoo Sports Final: South Carolina earns 28-7 win over Vanderbilt in Nashville
The South Carolina Gamecocks (5-3) face No. 24 Vanderbilt at 4:15 p.m. Saturday at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The game will air on SEC Network.
A win would give USC six wins and bowl eligibility with three games to go in the regular season.
It could be a wet afternoon in Nashville. It’s raining just before kickoff, and there’s a 70% chance of showers into the evening.
Q4: South Carolina 28, Vanderbilt 7
Rocket Sanders scores his third touchdown of the night on a 43-yard pass from QB LaNorris Sellers. The drive went 61 yards on just two plays and lasted 1:20 and was set up by a turnover on downs.
Q3: South Carolina 21, Vanderbilt 7
The Gamecocks go up by two scores again with another Rocket Sanders touchdown run. Sanders scores from a yard out on a drive in which he had four carries and 49 yards.
Q3: South Carolina 14, Vanderbilt 7
The Commodores get on the board with a 17-yard touchdown run from QB Diego Pavia. The score capped a 10 plays, 75-yard drive that lasted 5:13.
Q3: South Carolina 14, Vanderbilt 0
USC got off to a quick start after half when QB LaNorris Sellers found TE Joshua Simon and receiver Jared Brown down field for big chunk plays of 20 and 51 yards respectively. RB Raheim “Rocket” Sanders then ran it in from 33 yards out. The drive lasted 1:38 and went 75 yards on three plays.
FIRST-HALF STATS AT A GLANCE
Net total offensive yards: South Carolina leads 187-83; Net total passing yards: South Carolina leads 106-37; Net total rushing yards: South Carolina leads 81-46.
Self-inflicted mistakes: Both teams turned the ball over with fumbles in the first quarter.
LaNorris Sellers has completed 9-of-14 passes (64%) for 106 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 27 yards on 10 attempts. Raheim “Rocket” Sanders has 31 yards on eight carries. TE Joshua Simon has three catches for 40 yards and a score.
Q2: South Carolina 7, Vanderbilt 0
After USC recovered the fumble towards the end of the first quarter, QB LaNorris Sellers connected with receiver Nyck Harbor for a 23-yard pass. That set Sellers up to find TE Joshua Simon for a 17-yard touchdown to draw first blood for the Gamecocks.
The drive went 81 yards on 12 plays and lasted 4:45.
Q1: South Carolina 0,Vanderbilt 0
After the first quarter, neither team has drawn first blood. The Gamecocks went on a six-minute drive that resulted in a missed field goal by Alex Herrera.
After USC forced another Vanderbilt punt, QB LaNorris Sellers fumbled, ending his positive streak of not turning the ball over. It was forced by Miles Capers and recovered by Langston Patterson.
Vandy QB Diego Pavia fumbled it right back, forced and recovered by Kyle Kennard.
Final availability report
South Carolina, according to Saturday’s final availability report from the SEC, will be without RB Matthew Fuller, LB Mo Kaba, DB Buddy Mack III, OL Jakai Moore and defensive tackles Nick Barrett and DeAndre Jules.
Uniform report
The Gamecocks will wear garnet helmets, white jerseys and garnet pants in Saturday’s game.
Final point spread
South Carolina is favored by 6 points over Vanderbilt, according to the VegasInsider consensus line that factors in multiple sportsbooks. the over-under is 45 points.
South Carolina football game today
Who: South Carolina (5-3, 3-3 SEC) vs. No. 24 Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2 SEC)
Where: FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
When: 4:15 p.m. Saturday
TV: SEC Network
On-air announce crew: Dave Neal (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst) and Molly McGrath (sideline reporter)
Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area (Todd Ellis, play-by-play; Tommy Suggs, analyst; Chet Tucker, sideline) … See all the radio affiliates around South Carolina here.