South Carolina vs. Arkansas Post-Game Notes

Nov. 8, 2008

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South Carolina Gamecocks

With today’s win, South Carolina is assured of at least a .500 record in SEC action. It is the sixth time the Gamecocks have finished at .500 or better in the league since joining the SEC in 1992.

Head coach Steve Spurrier moves into a tie with Warren Giese for seventh place on the Carolina all-time wins list with 28. Giese won 28 times in 50 games as the Gamecocks’ head coach (1956-60). Spurrier reached 28 wins in just 47 contests at the Carolina helm.

Today’s win snapped a two-game losing streak to Arkansas and gave South Carolina its seventh win in 17 tries in the all-time series.

South Carolina’s 34 points today ties for its season-high output. The Gamecocks opened the season by scoring 34 points against NC State on Aug. 28, 2008.

Defensively, the Gamecocks picked up a season-high three interceptions, a feat accomplished twice last season – at North Carolina (10/13/07) and against South Carolina State (9/15/07).

Senior Kenny McKinley became the school record holder for career receiving yards on the second play of the Gamecocks’ first drive, as he reeled in Stephen Garcia’s 30-yard pass. McKinley ended the game with 130 yards to put his career total at 2,602. The grab also extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 40.

McKinley moved into a tie for second place in school history with his 19th career touchdown reception. His total matches that of Robert Brooks (1988-91) and Jermale Kelly (1997-2000). All three are four behind school-record holder Sidney Rice (2005-06), who collected 23.

McKinley ended the game with 130 yards receiving, tying Moe Brown for the most by a receiver in a game this season. Brown set the mark against Georgia on Sept. 13.

Sophomore Addison Williams collected his first career interception in the first quarter.

Senior Ryan Succop’s 54-yard field goal in the first quarter was tied for the third-longest in school history, matching that of Scott Hagler against Clemson on Oct. 29, 1983. It was four yards off Mark Fleetwood’s school record of 58 yards against Georgia on Sept. 25, 1982.

Spencer Lanning’s 53-yard, first-quarter punt was the longest of his career, besting his previous career high of 52 yards.

The South Carolina defense held Arkansas scoreless in the first quarter, marking the eighth game this season that the Gamecock defense has not allowed a touchdown in the first 15 minutes.

Sophomore quarterback Chris Smelley and junior tight end Jared Cook connected for a 66-yard touchdown pass and reception, the Gamecocks’ longest pass play of the season.

Senior cornerback Stoney Woodson picked up his eighth career interception to end the second quarter. He leads the current Gamecock roster in that category.

Junior Eric Norwood recorded a career-high 3.0 sacks in the game.

Arkansas Razorbacks

Team Notes

Arkansas is now 4-6 in coin tosses this season. The Razorbacks are 3-1 this season when they win the toss and 1-5 when they lose.
The Razorbacks are now 10-7 against South Carolina all-time.
The Razorbacks were 2-2 on fourth down conversions. For the season, Arkansas is 10-20.

Individual Notes

Casey Dick completed 16 of 26 passes for 217 yards with two touchdowns. He now ranks on Arkansas’ all-time charts as follows:
- Completions – 455, 3rd => Next: Barry Lunney Jr., 476
- Attempts – 821, 3rd => Next: Barry Lunney Jr., 856
- Yards – 5,659, 4th => Next: Barry Lunney Jr., 5,782
- Touchdown Passes – 45, 3rd => Next: Matt Jones, 53
- Completion Percentage – .554, 5th => Next: Quinn Grovey (.555)
Casey Dick’s 10th completed pass, a pass in the flat to D.J. Williams, made him Arkansas’ all-time single season leader in pass completions. Dick passed Barry Lunney Jr., who completed 180 during the 1995 season. Dick ended the game with 187 completed passes for the season.
Michael Smith rushed seven times for 25 yards. His first carry of the game, a 13-yard run up the middle on a Casey Dick hand-off in the first quarter, put him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season. He is the ninth Arkansas running back to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for a season; it is the 15th time it has been accomplished. He did not return for the second half of play because of a shoulder injury.
For the first time in school history, Arkansas has sported a 1,000-yard rusher for the fourth-straight season. In 2005, Darren McFadden racked up 1,113 yards on the ground. In 2006, McFadden and Felix Jones accounted for 1,647 yards and 1,168 yards, respectively. In 2007, McFadden (1,830) and Jones (1,162) again teamed up for 1,000-yard seasons.
Brandon Barnett and Dennis Johnson came into play running back for an injured Michael Smith. Barnett had seven carries for 45 yards and one TD (second of his career) while Johnson picked up 10 yards on four carries.
Jarius Wright caught a 70-yard Casey Dick pass for his first career TD and his longest career catch. The throw is Dick’s second longest completion of the season and his career. His career long is a 76-yard catch by D.J. Williams against ULM. Wright ended the game with two receptions for 82 yards and one TD.
On his first career reception, Mitchell Bailey caught a four-yard pass from Casey Dick for his first career TD.
With just over five minutes to play, Nathan Dick saw his first snaps as a Razorback. He completed four of eight passes with a career long of 13 and a total of 38 yards.
Jeremy Davis booted a 54-yard punt against South Carolina. It is the fifth game this season in which he has had a punt of 50 yards and gives him 11 50-yard punts this season. Prior to 2008, Davis had eight punts of 50 yards or more.
Joe Adams made his first catch of the game, a seven-yard reception, in the second quarter. He has had a catch in every game this season and of his career.
Dallas Washington made his first career interception with six minutes to go in the first quarter. He finished the day with six tackles and an interception.