Sept. 4, 2011

Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery

GENERAL NOTES

• The season-opening victory extends South Carolina’s opening-game winning streak to 12 games. The Gamecocks last season-opening loss came in the 1999 season.
• Saturday night’s win over East Carolina also improves head coach Steve Spurrier’s record to 21-1 all-time in season-opening games.
• With the victory, head coach Steve Spurrier is now tied for second the all-time wins list at South Carolina with Jim Carlen at 45 victories. Rex Enright is the school record holder with 64 career wins.
• South Carolina’s win over East Carolina keeps head coach Steve Spurrier’s record perfect against schools outside of BCS automatic qualifying conferences. He is a perfect 42-0 in his career against non-BCS schools, including a 16-0 mark since his arrival in Columbia.
• South Carolina’s 56-point total is the second highest point total by a Steve Spurrier coached team. It is the most points by the Gamecocks since 69 vs. Troy on Nov. 20, 2010.
• The 93 points combined by South Carolina and East Carolina is tied for third highest most points combined total for South Carolina and an opponent in school history. South Carolina and Troy also had 93 points last year in a 69-24 Gamecock win on Nov. 20, 2010.
• South Carolina improves to 11-5 all-time in the series vs. East Carolina. Head coach Steve Spurrier is now 1-0 vs. East Carolina.

OFFENSE

• Sophomore quarterback Connor Shaw made his first career start in Saturday’s game. It snaps a streak of 28 consecutive games for South Carolina with Stephen Garcia as starting quarterback. The last time Garcia didn’t start, Chris Smelley was the starter for South Carolina at Clemson on November 29, 2008.
• Junior wide receiver Alshon Jeffery has recorded a reception in 24 consecutive games dating back to September 9, 2009 vs. Florida Atlantic. Jeffery had five receptions for 92 yards. His 92 receiving yards moved him past Zola Davis (1995-98) for third all-time in receiving yards at Carolina. Jeffery now has 139 receptions for 2,372 yards in his career. Jeffery has had at three receptions or more for 23 consecutive games dating back to Oct. 20, 2009 vs. Kentucky.
• Senior quarterback Stephen Garcia’s 32-yard touchdown run was his longest run from scrimmage in his career at South Carolina. His previous long run was 25 yards on March 11, 2008 vs. Kentucky. Garcia finished the evening with two touchdown rushes, tying his career-high. He also rushed for two touchdowns in 2010 vs. Southern Miss and Tennessee. Garcia rushed five times for 56 yards.
• Sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore recorded his fifth 100-plus yard rushing game of his career. Lattimore finished with 23 carries for 112 yards. It is Lattimore’s fourth highest rushing game in his career at South Carolina. Lattimore’s three rushing touchdown gives him 20 in his career with the Garnet & Black moving him into eighth place all-time in school history for rushing touchdowns. He now has 22 touchdowns for his career at South Carolina. Lattimore also tied a career-high for rushing touchdowns in a game. He also had three at Florida on Nov. 13, 2010 and three vs. Troy on Nov. 20, 2010.
• Ace Sanders’ three-yard touchdown reception was his third receiving touchdown of his career. His previous touchdown reception came vs. Florida State at the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl, also a three-yard score off a pass from Stephen Garcia.

DEFENSE

• Senior spur Antonio Allen returned a fumble for a touchdown for 25 yards. It is the first fumble return for a touchdown by the Gamecocks since Byron McKnight had a 1-yard return on November 6, 2010 vs. Arkansas.
• Allen also tallied a career-high with 16 tackles for the evening. His previous high was eight vs. Arkansas on Nov. 6, 2010. Allen finished with two fumbles forced and two fumble recoveries as well as one pass breakup.
• Junior defensive back Stephon Gilmore finished with 10 tackles, tying a career-high for Gilmore. He now has registered at least five tackles or more in the last seven games he has played. Gilmore previously had 10 tackles on Nov. 14, 2009 vs. Florida.
• Freshman defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney made his first collegiate start. He is the first freshman defensive lineman to start a game for the Gamecocks since Travian Robertson on September 1, 2007. Clowney finished with seven tackles for the evening as well as a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
• Senior defensive lineman Melvin Ingram had a three-yard interception return in the fourth quarter. It was Ingram’s first interception of his career for the Garnet & Black.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Sophomore Ace Sanders had a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown. That is the first punt return for a touchdown by a Gamecock player since Chavez Donnings had a 73-yard return for a TD vs. Florida on Nov. 15. 2003.