Oct 9, 2003

Final Stats?|? Quotes?|? Notes

By PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Daccus Turman had three short touchdown runs and South Carolina survived Kentucky’s fourth-quarter rally to win its fourth straight over the Wildcats, 27-21 on Thursday night.

The Gamecocks (4-2, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) looked on their way to an easy victory, leading 27-7 through three quarters and with Wildcats senior quarterback Jared Lorenzen out of the game after a helmet-to-helmet hit from South Carolina defensive lineman Moe Thompson.

But Kentucky backup Shane Boyd led two touchdown drives in the final quarter. He hit Chris Bernard in the left front corner of the end zone on fourth-and-7, then four minutes later, broke free from an apparent sack for a 15-yard touchdown run to cut the lead to 27-21 with 6:05 remaining.

The Wildcats (2-4, 0-3) got the ball back one last time with 2:07 to go. However, Boyd overthrew Derek Abney on fourth down with 16 seconds to go and the Gamecocks held on.

Kentucky is 0-3 in the SEC for the third time in four years.

The Gamecocks had few problems with the Wildcats early on. Kentucky had only 26 yards total in the opening period, didn’t get a first down until 13:10 before halftime and Lorenzen was continually chased out of the pocket. He finished 10-of-18 for 129 yards and a touchdown.

Lorenzen left the field woozy after Thompson’s hit at the end of the third quarter. He spent several minutes face down near the Kentucky sidelines surrounded by trainers. He was helped off the field and slowly stepped to the bench, where he sat with a towel over his head.

Turman and Demetris Summers got things going South Carolina’s way early on.

Summers made a beautiful cut to go 13 yards and take the ball to Kentucky’s 1 and Turman bulled over two plays later to put the Gamecocks up 7-0.

Later in the quarter, Summers went 25 yards on four straight carries down to Kentucky’s 3. It took Turman two more plays to get into the end zone.

Summers set up South Carolina’s final touchdown with a 38-yard punt return to the Wildcats 48. Dondrial Pinkins hit Syvelle Newton with a 44-yard pass for a first-and-goal at the 4. Again, Turman needed two runs for his third touchdown.

Summers led South Carolina with 66 yards on 16 carries. Pinkins was 17-of-29 for 184 yards.

Boyd had 73 yards on nine carries.