April 17, 2004
Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina concluded the 2004 spring practice session with its annual Spring Football Game Saturday afternoon at Williams-Brice Stadium. The scrimmage began with Team Carolina consisting of first-team offense and second-team defense, while Team Gamecock included first-team defense and second-team offense. Players switched sides at the coaching staff’s discretion.
Syvelle Newton connected with Noah Whiteside on a 70-yard touchdown pass with 46 seconds left in the fourth quarter ending the game in a 13-13 tie. Newton finished the day with 277 passing yards, on 16-of-27 attempts, with two touchdowns to go along with 71 rushing yards.
“Hitting and tackling were good,” commented Head Coach Lou Holtz. “Hard to tell in a game like this. We didn’t stunt and didn’t do much on offense.”
Team Gamecock opened the scoring at the 7:22 mark of the first quarter. Syvelle Newton found walk-on fullback Jamie Peters wide-open in the endzone from three yards out on a play-action pass. The drive was highlighted by a 12-yard pass completion by Newton to Michael Flint, a 12-yard quarterback keeper by Newton and a 16-yard scamper by Gonzie Gray.
Gonzie Gray rushed for a pair of two-yard touchdowns.
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Gray rushed for a pair of two-yard touchdowns and ended with 20 yards on six carries. South Carolina had a balanced running attack comprised of Daccus Turman (6-24), Demetris Summers (6-15) and Cory Boyd (5-15).
Dondrial Pinkins (4-14, 35 yards), Blake Mitchell (2-8, 23 yards), Mike Rathe (2-3, 5 yards) all saw action at quarterback during the scrimmage.
Noah Whiteside caught three passes for a total of 77 yards. Tight end David Laggis (3-41), running back Corey Boyd (3-2) and wide receiver Matthew Thomas (2-36) led the South Carolina in receptions.
George Gause sacked quarterback Dondrial Pinkins on the second play of the scrimmage and Freddy Saint-Preux sacked Blake Mitchell to end the first half.
Marcus Lawrence, Lance Laury, Andre Hemphill and Marc Williams all had one interception on the day. Laury’s interception came off a Dondrial Pinkins pass in the endzone.
Linebacker Marcus Lawrence led all defensive players with five solo tackles. De’Adrian Coley and Andre Hemphill each had four solo stops.
USC will begin the 2004 season Sept. 4 against SEC foe Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn.
