Sept. 29, 2007

Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Action Photos

South Carolina Notes

• The three-yard first period score and two-yard and 12-yard fourth quarter runs by Mike Davis were his second, third and fourth rushing touchdowns of the season, the first time he has scored three touchdowns in a game. Davis now has 15 touchdowns in his three year career.
• South Carolina drove 69 yards in 12 plays with the opening kickoff, the second time this season the Gamecocks have scored on their first possession. The first was against Louisiana-Lafayette.
• The 11-yard first period sack by Emanuel Cook was his first of the season and first of his career.
• The 20-yard touchdown pass from Chris Smelley to Kenny McKinley in the second quarter was McKinley’s 100th career reception. McKinley also caught a 27-yard TD pass from Smelley in the third quarter.
• McKinley has caught at least one pass in 26 consecutive games and one or more touchdown passes in the last three games. He has 11 career touchdown receptions, five of them this season.
• McKinley caught a 48-yard fourth quarter pass from Smelley, the longest reception of his career. For the game he had four receptions for 107 yards, the fourth time he has reached triple-digit yardage.
• Chris Smelley celebrated his 21st birthday Saturday by passing for 279 yards and two touchdowns. He completed 19 of 37 attempts with one interception.
• The announced attendance of 78,883 increased the Williams Brice Stadium total to 230,212 for three 2007 games, an average of 76,737 per game.
• The 45-yard field goal by Ryan Succop just before halftime was his sixth of the season in seven attempts. It was also his longest of the year. Succop missed a 50-yard attempt in the third quarter. For his career, Succop has made 22 field goals in 30 attempts. Succop was five for five on points after touchdown, increasing his season total to 15 of 15. For his career, he is 52 of 54.
• The 44-yard third quarter kickoff return by Chris Culliver matched his season high. He also had a 44-yard return against LSU.
• Eric Norwood blocked a Mississippi State punt in the third quarter, South Carolina’s second punt block of the season. Cliff Matthews partially blocked a punt by LSU last week. Norwood also recorded a sack for a 16-yard loss on the final play of the game, his third sack of the season and 10th of his career.
• The fourth quarter interception by Darian Stewart was the first of his career and sixth by the Gamecocks this season.
• Mike Davis tied the school record for rushing touchdowns in a game with three.

Mississippi State Notes

• Today’s captains were sophomore defensive back Jarvis Kyles, senior tight end Dezmond Sherrod and senior defensive end Titus Brown.
• Mississippi State won the coin toss and elected to defer. State has won the toss each of the previous three games (all Bulldog victories).
• With a Derek Pegues interception in the Bulldog endzone late in the first quarter, State has now intercepted a pass in the opening period in each of the last four games.
• Mississippi State’s 14-play, seven minute touchdown drive in the second quarter was its longest scoring drive (both in plays and in time elapsed) this season (previous: 12 plays and 5:41 elapsed in game-opening drive at Auburn).
• Late in the third quarter, State had a punt blocked for the first time since November 5, 2005 (vs. Alabama).
• The Bulldog defense allowed a season-high 402 yards in today’s game. The total was the highest allowed since LSU amassed 446 on September 30, 2006.
• Junior quarterback Josh Riddell and junior wide receiver Co-Eric Riley each earned his first career start.
• Junior defensive back Demario Bobo made his first start of the season and the 13th of his career.
• Senior wide receiver Tony Burks’ first-quarter 30-yard reception was his third catch of 30 or more yards this season.
• Junior wideout Aubrey Bell’s first-quarter 28-yard touchdown reception was the first score of his career.
• Anthony Dixon scored his fifth and sixth touchdown of the season, and now has 15 in his career. Dixon is now just three scores away from entering the school’s all-time top 10.
• Sophomore Christian Ducre set career bests with 15 attempts for 68 yards. His previous highs were 10 carries (twice) and 63 yards (at Auburn).
• On the first play of today’s game, sophomore Kyle Love recorded his first career tackle for loss.
• With his first quarter interception, Derek Pegues now has seven career quarterback thefts. He is just two interceptions away from entering the school’s career top-10.
• Titus Brown recorded his fifth and sixth sacks of the season on back-to-back snaps early in the third quarter. Brown now has 16.5 sacks in his career, surpassing Robert Young (16.0, 1987-90) for seventh on the school’s all time list.
• Brown entered today’s game tied for the Southeastern Conference lead with four sacks and tied for fourth with six tackles for loss.
• Junior punter Blake McAdams hit six punts for 274 yards, an average of 45.7 yards per kick. It was McAdams’ highest single game average since he boomed six punts for 290 yards (48.3) against Alabama on November 5, 2005.