Nov. 5, 2011

Final Stats | Notes | Photo Gallery

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — No. 10 South Carolina pulled to within two points of No. 8 Arkansas early in the fourth quarter, but the Razorbacks responded with 14 unanswered points to claim a 44-28 victory on Saturday night at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

With the loss, the Gamecocks fall to 7-2 on the season and 5-2 in the SEC. The loss also snaps Carolina’s six-game “true” road winning streak.

“Arkansas played very well, and they were a lot better than we were tonight certainly, on offense, defense, and special teams,” South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier said. “Their special teams were very good, ours were not very good tonight. It’s one loss, it’s a game we didn’t play our best.”

South Carolina led twice early in the contest but trailed 24-14 at halftime. Sophomore quarterback Connor Shaw produced two second-half touchdown runs, including a 1-yard run at the 10:30 mark of the fourth quarter, to trim Arkansas’ lead to 30-28.

But the Razorbacks (8-1, 4-1) put together an eight-play, 63-yard scoring drive on the ensuing possession to push their lead to 37-28 and added another touchdown on a 1-yard run by Broderick Green with 4:07 remaining to put the game out of reach.

The Gamecocks finished the night with 207 yards of total offense, while Arkansas produced 435 yards in the win. Shaw completed 16-of-25 passes for 128 yards and added 24 yards and two scores on the ground to lead Carolina.

Junior receiver Alshon Jeffery recorded three receptions to move ahead of Sterling Sharpe (1983-87) for second in all-time receptions at South Carolina with 170. His 19 receiving yards on the night leaves him 14 yards shy of Kenny McKinley’s school record of 2,781.

Junior defensive end Devin Taylor had a big night for the Carolina defense with three tackles, a sack and an interception return for a touchdown.

The Razorbacks got off to a strong start as they took the opening kickoff and drove down to the South Carolina 26, where they settled for a 44-yard field goal by Zach Hocker to take a 3-0 lead.

After struggling on their first drive, the Gamecocks found a rhythm on their second possession, driving 72 yards in nine plays to take the lead. Freshman running back Brandon Wilds took a pitch around the end and darted into the end zone from 4 yards out for his first career touchdown to cap the drive and give South Carolina a 7-3 lead with 2:28 left in the first quarter.

But Carolina’s lead didn’t last long, as Arkansas’ Dennis Johnson returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards to put the Razorbacks back in front, 10-7.

The Gamecocks turned to their defense to regain the lead. Senior defensive back C.C. Whitlock had Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson wrapped up for a sack, but Wilson tried to get rid of the ball and Taylor picked off the pass and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown to give South Carolina a 14-10 lead with 13:04 remaining in the half.

Arkansas answered with another quick strike, as Wilson connected with Jarius Wright for a 68-yard touchdown pass on the Razorbacks’ first play on the ensuing possession to take a 17-14 lead. The touchdown was the longest play from scrimmage given up by the Carolina defense this season, with the previous long being 33 yards.

The Razorbacks added another score before the half, as Wilson found Wright for a 16-yard touchdown strike to give Arkansas a 24-14 lead heading into the locker room.

A 55-yard kickoff return by Victor Hampton to open the second half gave the Gamecocks excellent field position at the Arkansas 45, and Carolina took advantage with a 9-play, 45-yard scoring drive. Shaw capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run to trim the Razorbacks’ lead to 24-21 at the 10:50 mark of the third quarter.

After two Hocker field goals gave Arkansas a 30-21 lead, Shaw produced his second touchdown run of the game from a yard out to cut the Razorbacks’ lead to 30-28 with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter.

But Arkansas scored the next 14 points to seal the win, including Green’s 1-yard touchdown run after the Gamecocks turned the ball over at their own 1-yard line.

Wilson connected on 20-of-37 pass attempts for 299 yards and two scores to lead the Razorbacks, while Johnson added 86 yards rushing on 15 carries.

The Gamecocks return to action against Florida on Saturday, Nov. 12 in the first of three straight home games to close out the season.