Sept. 2, 2007

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South Carolina Post-Game Notes

• South Carolina scored on its first possession of the season for the second time in the three-year history of the “Steve Spurrier Era.”

• Redshirt-freshman Chris Smelley started and directed South Carolina’s opening drive, 64 yards, seven plays. Sophomore Tommy Beecher quarterbacked the second drive, 50 yards in five plays, ending in a 19-yard touchdown pass to Kenny McKinley. Both Smelley and Beecher threw TD passes on their first series.

• Smelley and Beecher combined to complete 21 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Beecher was 11-for-15 for 137 yards. Smelley was 10-for-14 and threw the only Carolina interception of the night.

• The first quarter 19-yard touchdown pass reception by Kenny McKinley from Tommy Beecher was McKinley’s seventh career touchdown, all on pass receptions.

• Attendance for the Louisiana-Lafayette home opener was announced at 78,234. Last year’s home opener was a conference game (Georgia) and drew an overflow crowd of 82,513. The first home non-conference game last year (Wofford) drew 74,286.

• Cory Boyd rushed for two touchdowns on runs of two and four yards, his ninth and tenth career rushing touchdowns. Boyd also has four career touchdowns on pass receptions.

• Mike Davis was South Carolina’s leading rusher with 94 yards on 15 carries, an average of 6.3 yards per rush.

• The new rule moving kickoffs back five yards to the 30 yard line had little effect on Gamecock kicker Ryan Succop. Four-of-five kickoffs were in the end zone for touchbacks. Louisiana-Lafayette returned one for 14 yards.

• Succop was successful on four extra-point attempts, increasing his career total to 41-of-43. He punted three times for a 45 yard average. He missed a 47 yard field goal attempt.

• Sixth-year senior Andy Boyd caught three passes for 48 yards and one touchdown, a two yard pass from Chris Smelley. Boyd nearly doubled his career reception total. He has seven career receptions, including four touchdowns.

• South Carolina is now 74-36-4 in season openers. The Gamecocks have opened the season at home 90 times with a 67-19-4 record. The overall winning percentage in openers is 66.7, including a 74.4 percent in home openers.