November 17, 2001

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Phil Petty, questionable at game time because of a sore throwing shoulder, was 14-of-23 for 152 yards as No. 22 South Carolina beat Clemson 20-15 on Saturday.

The win in Petty’s final home game snapped a four-game winning streak in the rivalry for the Tigers (5-5) and will likely boost No. 22 South Carolina (8-3) into a high-tier bowl game for the second-straight year.

South Carolina coach Lou Holtz rarely gambles. But he went for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with his team leading by four. Backup quarterback Corey Jenkins drove in off right tackle to give the Gamecocks a 20-9 lead. Petty, who also ran seven times for 29 yards, set up the winning score with a 7-yard run on a bootleg.

After a sluggish first half, South Carolina dominated Clemson in the last 30 minutes. The Gamecocks had the 14-play, 80-yard drive that ended in the clinching touchdown and a seven minute, 40-yard drive for a field goal. They held the ball for more than 21 minutes in the second half, outgaining the Tigers 181-104, with most of Clemson’s yards coming on an 85-yard desperation drive after they fell behind by 11.

Clemson quarterback Woodrow Dantzler ran 20 times for 102 yards and was 15-of-29 for 204 yards and two touchdowns through the air. The two picks were especially painful, each ending Tiger drives in Gamecock territory.

South Carolina needed two big plays in the first half to stay in the game. The first came as the Tigers went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Clemson 43, already ahead 6-0. Dantzler faked a sneak, then lofted a pass to a wide open Airese Currie. But the ball floated, allowing cornerback Sheldon Brown to catch up for his first of two interceptions.

The second big play for the Gamecocks came on a third-and-14 from their own 10. Andrea Gause jumped to catch Petty’s pass, gaining 36 yards. Five plays later, Derek Watson’s 6-yard touchdown run put South Carolina ahead 10-9.

A record crowd of 85,000 at Williams-Brice Stadium watched the Gamecocks beat their bitterest rival for the first time since 1996. It was South Carolina’s first win over Clemson in Columbia since 1987.

Fullback Andrew Pinnock led South Carolina with 80 yards on 14 carries, including a 19-yard run on third-and-one with less than two minutes left that sealed the game.

Clemson scored its first touchdown on a 54-yard pass to Currie for the freshman’s first career touchdown. But Currie got a celebration penalty after the play, and Aaron Hunt missed the 35-yard point after attempt, giving Clemson a 6-0 lead. Currie would finish the game with three catches for 65 yards.