Yahoo Sports Final: South Carolina routs Kentucky on the road, advances to 2-0
The 1-0 South Carolina Gamecocks face their first SEC opponent in the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday in Lexington.
Final score
Q4: South Carolina 31, Kentucky 6
Nick Emmanwori snagged a pick-six (which he ran 24 yards into the end zone) on the first play of the fourth quarter to extend South Carolina’s lead to 25 points.
Q3: South Carolina 24, Kentucky 6
After a 22-yard rushing touchdown by Raheim “Rocket” Sanders was overturned because he was deemed out of bounds at the 1-yard line, the Gamecocks ran nine plays in the red zone. On the tenth, Sanders scored with a six-yard touchdown run. USC leads 24-6 with less than 30 seconds left in the quarter.
Q3: South Carolina 17, Kentucky 6
LaNorris Sellers threw a 16-yard pass to Joshua Simon for the Gamecocks’ second touchdown of the day with just under seven minutes left in the period. The score capped off a seven-play, 58-yard drive that lasted three minutes and 53 seconds.
First half stats at a glance
Total yards: Kentucky leads 115-101. Passing yards: USC leads 55-30. Rushing yards: UK leads 85-46.
LaNorris Sellers has completed four of six passes (67%) for 48 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Backup quarterback Robby Ashford completed one pass for seven yards while in briefly for Sellers in the second quarter. Ashford ran five times for 29 yards.
The Gamecocks defense has continued to impress after a strong Week 1 performance against Old Dominion at home. In Lexington, USC has racked up 49 total tackles (including six tackles for loss) and three sacks in the first half. South Carolina has also forced two fumbles and two quarterback hurries.
Halftime: South Carolina 10, Kentucky 6
LaNorris Sellers threw his first collegiate interception on 2nd and 17 with just over a minute-and-a-half remaining in the second quarter. UK ran three plays, then Alex Raynor completed a 32-yard field goal attempt to bring the Wildcats within four points.
Q2: LaNorris Sellers checks back in for the Gamecocks
South Carolina starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers reentered the Kentucky game with under two minutes remaining in the second quarter after sustaining a right leg injury. ESPN sideline reporter Molly McGrath reported that Sellers told teammates “I’m good to go,” upon his return to the sideline.
Q2: South Carolina 10, Kentucky 3
UK’s Alex Raynor completed a 32-yard field goal attempt for the Wildcats’ first score of the day with just under two minutes left in the half. The kick capped off a 12-play, 57-yard drive that lasted six minutes and three seconds.
Q2: South Carolina 10, Kentucky 0
Alex Herrera completed a 29-yard field goal attempt to cap a six-play, 20-yard scoring drive that lasted three minutes and nine seconds.
Q2: LaNorris Sellers back throwing on the sideline
After heading to the locker room at the end of the first quarter with what coach Shane Beamer described as a “lower body injury,” Sellers came back out around the 11-minute mark of the second quarter and began throwing a football on USC’s sideline.
Q1: Robby Ashford checks in, LaNorris Sellers to locker room
Starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers went to the injury tent after he was hit on a 17-yard pass to Connor Cox, which was called back because of a holding penalty. Ashford checked in on 3rd down, completed a 7-yard pass, and started the next drive for USC. Sellers was last seen jogging to the locker room with trainers.
Q1: South Carolina 7, Kentucky 0
Mazeo Bennett Jr. scored the first touchdown of the game and of his collegiate career Saturday. He caught a 24-yard pass from LaNorris Sellers to give USC the early lead.
These Gamecocks didn’t travel to Lexington
Elijah Davis (edge), Debron Gatling (WR), Tyshawn Russell (WR), Elijah Caldwell (WR), CJ Adams (WR), Djay Braswell (RB), Kam Pringle (OL), (DL) Jamaal Whyce, Blake Franks (OL), Reid Mikeska (TE), Nick Elksnis (TE) and Nick Barrett (DL) were not included on the Gamecocks travel roster Saturday.
Final injury report
Emory Floyd (DB) and Jakai Moore (OL) will not play against Kentucky, according to South Carolina’s game day injury report at SECSports.com.
Uniform report
South Carolina is wearing garnet helmets to go with white jerseys and white pants. Kentucky is wearing blue jerseys, pants and helmets.
Final betting line
South Carolina is a 9.5-point underdog to Kentucky, according to the VegasInsider line that factors in multiple sportsbooks. The over/under is 41.5 points.
What channel is the game on today?
Who: South Carolina (1-0) vs. Kentucky (1-0)
Where: Kroger Field in Lexington, Ky.
When: 3:30 p.m., Saturday
TV: ABC
Stream: ESPN.com
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.
Satellite radio: Sirius/XM channel 374
