Oct. 16, 2010

Recap | Final Stats | AP Photo Gallery

• Head Coach Steve Spurrier: Falls to 181-70-2 (.719) as a collegiate head coach, 39-30 in his fifth year at South Carolina. He loses to Kentucky for the first time in 18 meetings, falling to 17-1 against the Wildcats. He is 5-1 against Kentucky as South Carolina’s head coach.
• Records: South Carolina falls to 4-2, 2-2 in SEC play. Kentucky improves to 4-3, 1-3 in the SEC. The Gamecocks are now 14-7-1 all-time against the Wildcats, and Kentucky snapped a 10-game losing streak in the series dating back to 2000.
• It’s Still Been a While: South Carolina has now lost seven consecutive SEC road games, dating back to Oct. 11, 2008, when Carolina took a 24-17 victory over Kentucky. Carolina has not won away from Williams-Brice Stadium since the 2009 season-opener at NC State, a span of seven games.
• As a Ranked Team: The Gamecocks are 9-11 when ranked in the top 25 under Spurrier, falling to 3-2 this year. Carolina is 1-8 as a ranked squad in road games in the Spurrier era.
• Opening Statement: With 14 points tonight, South Carolina has outscored its opponents 70-16 in the first quarter this season. In 13 games last year, the Gamecocks scored a total of 65 first-quarter points.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• RB Marcus Lattimore had a career night, accounting for 212 yards of total offense, rushing 15 times for 79 yards and two touchdowns, and catching four passes for 133 yards (both career highs) and another score. With his 133 receiving yards, he becomes the fifth 100-yard receiver for Carolina this year (Alshon Jeffery has four 100-yard games this year).
• Lattimore scored three touchdowns in tonight’s game, giving him at least one touchdown in each of his first six collegiate games. He now has 12 total touchdowns on the season (10 rushing, 2 receiving), tying him for fourth all-time in SC history for single-season touchdowns. Jeff Grantz (1975), Stanley Pritchett (1995), Sterling Sharpe (1986), Derek Watson (2000) and Andrew Pinnock (2001) each scored 12 times. The single-season record is 16 (Harold Green, 1987).
• QB Stephen Garcia had a career-high 382 yards on 20-for-32 passing with two touchdowns. His previous best was 327 passing yards at Arkansas last season.
• WR Alshon Jeffery caught six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown, giving him five scores on the season. He now has 690 yards on 40 receptions this season.
• WR Ace Sanders had a career-high 70 receiving yards on two catches.
• Seeing Red: South Carolina was 2-of-3 in red-zone scoring opportunities, improving to 21-of-23 on the season, including 19 touchdowns. The only two times South Carolina has not scored in the red zone, the drives ended on last-minute interceptions in the end zone.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• Kentucky rushed for 52 yards, the fifth time in six games for the Gamecocks to hold an opponent under 100 yards on the ground. Only Auburn has rushed for more than 100 yards against Carolina this year.
• CB Chris Culliver shared the lead for South Carolina with eight tackles, a season-high.
• DB DeVonte Holloman also had eight stops, including a tackle for loss.
• The Gamecocks had three sacks, giving them 22 for the season. Devin Taylor, Melvin Ingram and Travian Robertson had one apiece.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• D.J. Swearinger returned the first three kickoffs of the night for a total of 62 yards. It was his first time to return kicks as a Gamecock.
• Spencer Lanning punted four times for an average of 44.2 yards, and that included a 32-yard punt that pinned Kentucky at their own 5-yard line. His long punt went for 51 yards.
• Lanning was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra point tries. The Gamecocks did not attempt a field goal for the third straight game.

UP NEXT
The Gamecocks will wrap up a two-game road swing through the SEC Eastern Division with a trip to Vanderbilt on Saturday, Oct. 23. Kickoff at Vanderbilt Stadium is set for 7 p.m. ET with a broadcast on FSN.