Aug. 9, 2008
The South Carolina Gamecock football team s scrimmaged at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday on a picture-perfect afternoon in Columbia. The offense put five touchdowns and a field goal on the board in the first full scrimmage of the fall camp.
“We had one of our typical scrimmages except we had a few touchdowns, which was different,” said Head Coach Steve Spurrier following the 90-minute scrimmage. “We had an overtime period thing where the offense ended up scoring two, but not the first offense. The first offense went backwards on their attempt against the first defense. It was productive mainly because we had no injuries. I thought the defense looked pretty good most of the day,” continued Coach Spurrier. “We let the quarterback run out a few times though. Garcia and Beecher can run out of there and make some scramble plays, which we haven’t seen by a South Carolina quarterback since Syvelle Newton was here. The defense had a lot of good plays here and there but they have got to get better, our offense has to get better, our special teams have to get better. We all have to get better.”
Junior quarterback Tommy Beecher took the first snaps under center and led his unit to a score on the first drive of the day. He completed 3-of-4 passes on that drive for 46 yards, capping it off with a 16-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Weslye Saunders.
Beecher and Saunders hooked up again a little later, this time from 12-yards out for another score. Beecher finished the day by completing 9-of-13 passes for 123 yards and the two scores with no interceptions. Saunders caught three passes for 36 yards and two TDs.
Sophomore quarterback Chris Smelley piloted the second unit and completed 9-of-18 passes for 114 yards and two scores. Like Beecher, he did not throw an interception. Smelley’s two touchdown strikes went to redshirt freshman Jason Barnes from 10-yards out and to sophomore Joe Hills on a 13-yard completion.
“Our protection was pretty decent most of the day,” said Coach Spurrier. “But we missed a bunch of open guys and we dropped a bunch of passes, too. I think both Chris and Tommy did pretty decent. They could have done better obviously but it was what it was.”
Redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia worked with the third unit and finished the scoring with a 25-yard pass to senior Bobby Wallace when the team was working on the overtime situations. Garcia finished the afternoon 6-for-8 for 67 yards with the one touchdown. He was picked off once by junior cornerback Captain Munnerlyn.
With Mike Davis sidelined with a shoulder injury, sophomore Brian Maddox made the start at tailback. He rushed four times for 13 yards and caught three passes for another 35 yards. Freshman Eric Baker carried four times for 18 yards.
Senior placekicker Ryan Succop connected on 1-of-2 attempts, missing wide right from 50 yards out, before connecting on a 32-yard attempt.
Nothing was decided in the punting game, as Spencer Lanning punted twice for a 36.0 yard average, while freshman Ryan Doerr’s only attempt traveled 37 yards.
The Gamecocks will take part in Fan Appreciation Day on Sunday from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Colonial Life Arena, then will return to the Bluff Road “Proving Grounds” Sunday night at 7:30. That practice will again be closed.
SCORING PLAYS:
16-yard pass from Tommy Beecher to Weslye Saunders (Succop kick)
12-yard pass from Tommy Beecher to Weslye Saunders (Lanning kick)
10-yard pass from Chris Smelley to Jason Barnes (Lanning kick)
Ryan Succop 32-yard field goal
13-yard pass from Chris Smelley to Joe Hills (Lanning kick)
25-yard pass from Stephen Garcia to Bobby Wallace (no attempt)
PASSING: Tommy Beecher 9-13-0-123-2 TD; Chris Smelley 9-18-0-114-2 TD; Stephen Garcia 6-8-1-67, 1 TD. TEAM: 24-39-1-304, 5 TD.
RUSHING: Stephen Garcia 3-21; Eric Baker 4-18; Brian Maddox 4-13; Kenny Miles 3-7; Tommy Beecher 1-7; Taylor Rank 3-5; Bobby Wallace 2-(-3); Dion Lecorn 2-(-4); Chris Smelley 3-(-18). TEAM: 25-46.
RECEIVING: Weslye Saunders 3-36; Brian Maddox 3-35; Kenny McKinley 2-38; Freddie Brown 2-36; Jason Barnes 2-22; Nick Prochak 2-19; Taylor Rank 2-12; Foxy Foxworth 1-28; Bobby Wallace 1-25; Matt Clements 1-17; Joe Hills 1-13; Scott Spurrier 1-8; Eric Baker 1-5; Dion Lecorn 1-5; Bryan Kingrey 1-5. TEAM: 24-304.
