Nov. 7, 2010

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | AP Photo Gallery

• Head Coach Steve Spurrier: Falls to 183-71-2 (.719) as a collegiate head coach, 41-31 in his sixth year at South Carolina. He falls to 5-4 all-time against Arkansas, including a 2-4 mark as the Carolina head coach.
• Records: South Carolina falls to 6-3 overall, 4-3 in SEC play. Arkansas improves to 7-2 overall, 4-2 in SEC play. The Gamecocks are now 7-12 all-time against Arkansas, and have lost two straight in the series. In 10 meetings in Columbia, the series is tied at 5-5.
• Home-Field Streak Snapped: South Carolina lost at home for the first time since falling to No. 1 Florida, 24-14, on Nov. 14, 2009. The Gamecocks had won six in a row dating back to a victory over Clemson on Nov. 28 of last season; Carolina had won 13 of 14 dating back to a 27-6 victory over Tennessee on Nov. 1, 2008. The Gamecocks fall to 5-1 at home this season, the same record as they had at this point last year.
• As a Ranked Team: The Gamecocks are 11-12 when ranked in the top 25 under Spurrier, falling to 5-3 this year. Carolina falls for the first time as a ranked team at home over the last two seasons; Carolina is 6-1 at home as a ranked team over the last two seasons.
• Standings: South Carolina remains in a tie for first place in the SEC Eastern Division at 4-3 in league play; Florida has the same record. The two teams meet next week in Gainesville for a trip to the SEC Championship Game.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• QB Stephen Garcia passed Phil Petty (5,652) and Anthony Wright (5,681) to move into fourth place on the all-time South Carolina passing list with 161 yards on 14-of-29 passing tonight. Garcia now has 5,759 yards for his career. Garcia was also the Gamecocks’ leading rusher tonight with seven carries for 54 yards. Tonight was Garcia’s third loss as a starter (now 12-3) in Williams-Brice Stadium; all three have been to ranked SEC opponents (No. 13 LSU in 2008; No. 1 Florida in 2009).
• WR Alshon Jeffery became the third different South Carolina player to amass 1,000 receiving yards in a single season, joining Sidney Rice (1,143 in 2005; 1,090 in 2006) and Sterling Sharpe (1,106 in 1986). With 99 yards on seven catches, Jeffery now has 1,034 receiving yards for the season, ranking fourth in Gamecock history in that category.
• Jeffery passed Troy Williamson for ninth place on the all-time receiving yards list; he now has 1,797 yards for his career, surpassing Williamson’s 1,754 yards from 2002-04. Jeffery also became the 15th player to record 100 career receptions as a Gamecock with his second catch in tonight’s game.
• WR Tori Gurley scored the Gamecocks’ only offensive touchdown, hauling in a 4-yard pass in the first quarter. It was Gurley’s fourth touchdown reception of the season and the sixth of his career.
• RB Marcus Lattimore finished with 30 yards on 11 carries in tonight’s game. It marked the first time all season that Lattimore failed to score a touchdown, snapping a streak of seven consecutive games with a score.
• TE Justice Cunningham had his first career multi-reception game, hauling in two passes for 31 yards – both career highs – including a career-long 19 yard catch in the first half.
• QB Seth Strickland saw his first game action at quarterback, completing his only pass attempt. QB Andrew Clifford also completed his only attempt of the night.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• DE Byron McKnight scored his first career touchdown, recovering an Arkansas fumble in the fourth quarter and returning it one yard for a score. It was the third defensive touchdown of the year for the Gamecocks and the second straight week that a defensive lineman has scored (Devin Taylor – INT return vs. Tennessee).
• DB DeVonte Holloman had his second interception of the season and the third of his career, picking off a Ryan Mallett pass and returning it 13 yards on the first Arkansas possession of the third quarter. It was the third turnover Holloman has caused this year – he picked off a pass vs. Southern Miss and caused a fumble against Georgia.
• CB Stephon Gilmore shared the team lead with eight tackles, including a sack that forced the fumble recovered by McKnight for a touchdown.
• SPUR Antonio Allen posted a career-high eight tackles on the night; he also broke up a pass and was credited with a QB hurry.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• PK Spencer Lanning was 2-of-3 on field goal attempts tonight, connecting from 29 and 31 yards (missing from 29). He is now 7-of-11 on field goals for the season. Tonight was his second multi-field goal game of the season; he was 2-for-2 vs. Southern Miss. His three attempts tonight were a season high.
• KR Bryce Sherman had a career-long 37 yard kickoff return in tonight’s game. He totaled seven returns for 145 yards.

UP NEXT
The Gamecocks will travel to Gainesville, Fla., with the SEC Eastern Division championship on the line as they face the Florida Gators on Saturday, Nov. 13. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, with a national broadcast set for ESPN or ESPN2.