Road strong: South Carolina shuts down Kentucky in conference opener

Brock Vandagriff was playing football in a war zone. If you weren’t scared for the Kentucky quarterback, you were at least glad you weren’t him.

He was trying to play football amid chaos. He had two heat-seeking missiles coming for his head every play. He had tanks pushing towards him every second. And even when he thought the coast was clear, there were scattered grenades to be worried about.

Kentucky tried to play it safe Saturday against South Carolina at Kroger Field. They tried to avoid throwing the ball, avoid those missiles that were Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart. But then those tanks, those South Carolina linemen — Tonka Hemingway, TJ Sanders and Alex Huntley — were wrecking things. So they went back to the air. Tried to be smart. Then Kentucky kept stepping on grenades. Penalties. A Nick Emmanwori pick-six. Another interception.

“I kind of feel for Brock Vandfgriff today.,” ABC play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough said. “He didn’t have a chance.”

South Carolina rolled to a 31-6 victory over Kentucky (1-1, 0-1 SEC) on Saturday. It was the most impressive, dominating, decisive USC victory in two years. It was also the first time that the Gamecocks (2-0, 1-0 SEC) were victorious in their conference opener since 2017.

“What a team win for our football program,” head coach Shane Beamer said. “Offense, defense, special teams. You talk about gritty, you talk about tough, you talk about competitive. We showed it all today.”

THE DEFENSE WAS LIGHTS OUT

South Carolina, underdogs by two possessions, put together one of the most impressive defensive performances in recent memory. It was so controlling that there were moments when it felt like the only chance the Wildcats had of moving the ball was chucking deep balls and praying for pass interference.

Truly. South Carolina was that good.

How good? Kentucky only compiled 183 total yards — the first time under Beamer that South Carolina held an SEC opponent under 200 yards. Vandagriff finished the game 3-of-10 passing for just 30(!) yards.

The Gamecocks’ cornerbacks could have had their hands literally tied for the second half and South Carolina still probably wins by a touchdown. Cornerbacks don’t matter much when the opposing quarterback can’t even cock his arm back before being bludgeoned like a rag doll.

South Carolina racked up nine tackles for loss. Sanders, Stewart, Kernnard and cornerback Vicari Swain all notched a sack. The Gamecocks again picked off two passes.

This was the type of day that does not just bring hope of making a bowl game, but of a special season. All of a sudden, next week’s game against LSU doesn’t look as daunting. Heck, no game feels out of reach when you’re defense doesn’t give up a touchdown.

OFFENSE FINDS RHYTHM

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers left the game in the first quarter with what Beamer called a “lower-body injury.” And, well, it didn’t matter. By the time Sellers exited to the locker room, where he stayed for a few minutes before coming back, the Gamecocks were already up 7-0. Turns out, that would’ve been enough.

Sellers again showed some freshman moments Saturday. He had an ugly interception at the end of the half, which Kentucky turned into a much-needed field goal. But in the second half, with his defense perhaps providing him some comfort, Sellers seemed to calm. He led the Gamecocks on two-straight touchdown drives in the third quarter — including a beautiful pass to tight end Joshua Simon in the end zone.

The Gamecocks’ offense still has plenty of issues — they barely eclipsed 250 total yards and Sellers was sacked three times — but there was at least some moments of promise.

“There wasn’t a lot of belief in this program or in this team coming in here to be able to do what we just did against a really good team that has a veteran defense,” Beamer said. “The reality is we’ve got belief. The 74 young men that came up here, the coaches and staff, this isn’t some surprise. We truly expected to win this football game.”

Sellers finished 11 of 15 passing for 159 yards and two touchdowns. His other TD went to freshman receiver Mazeo Bennett, who had three grabs for a game-high 63 yards.

Tailback Rocket Sanders had 13 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown.

Next game for the Gamecocks

• Who: South Carolina vs. LSU

• When: Noon Saturday, Sept. 14

• Where: Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, SC

• TV: ABC

2024 game schedule

• Aug. 31 – South Carolina 23, Old Dominion 19

• Sept. 7 – South Carolina 31, Kentucky 6

• Sept. 14 – vs. LSU – Noon, ABC

• Sept. 21 – vs. Akron – TBA (night)

• Oct. 5 – vs. Ole Miss – TBA (flex)

• Oct. 12 – at Alabama – Noon, ABC —OR— ESPN
  
  

• Oct. 19 – at Oklahoma – TBA (early)

• Nov. 2 – vs. Texas A&M – TBA (night)

• Nov. 9 – at Vanderbilt – TBA (afternoon)

• Nov. 16 – vs. Missouri – TBA (afternoon)
  
  

• Nov. 23 – vs. Wofford – 4 p.m., SEC Network+/ESPN+

• Nov. 30 – at Clemson – TBA