Nov. 5, 2011

Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery

GENERAL NOTES

• Saturday’s 44-28 loss snaps South Carolina’s three-game winning streak. The loss drops the Gamecocks to 7-2 on the year and 5-2 in the SEC. It also snaps the Gamecocks’ school record six-game “true road” winning streak that dates back to last year.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• Freshman tailback Brandon Wilds scored his first career touchdown on a four-yard run in the first quarter. Wilds finished the night with 10 carries for 21 yards.
• Junior wide receiver Alshon Jeffery moved ahead of Sterling Sharpe (1983-87) for second in all-time receptions at South Carolina. Jeffery had a pair of receptions in the first half as well as one reception in the second half. He now owns 170 receptions for his career. The record is 207 held by Kenny McKinley (2005-08). Jeffery also moved closer to the receiving yards record in school history. Jeffery’s 19 receiving yards gives him 2,767 career yards, 14 yards shy of Kenny McKinley’s school record of 2,781.
• Sophomore quarterback Connor Shaw’s nine-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and his one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter gives him three rushing touchdowns for the season. The two touchdowns runs are a career-high as well. Shaw had a five-yard run in the 14-3 win over Tennessee on Oct. 29, 2011. Shaw had 14 carries for 24 yards in the game. He was 16-of-25 passing for 128 yards as well.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• Junior defensive end Devin Taylor recorded his second career touchdown with a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter. His previous touchdown was vs. Tennessee on Oct. 30, 2010, a 24-yard interception return in that contest. Taylor’s touchdown also marked the sixth score by the defense this season. Taylor would finish with three tackles including 1.5 for loss, had a sack and a pass breakup as well.
• The 68-yard touchdown pass from Arkansas’ Tyler Wilson to Jarius Wright was the longest play from scrimmage given up by the Gamecocks this year. The previous long play from scrimmage was 33 yards.
• Four Gamecocks would finish the evening with six tackles to lead the defensive effort. Stephon Gilmore, Rodney Paulk, Damario Jeffery and D.J. Swearinger all had six tackles apiece.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

• Dennis Johnson’s 98-yard kickoff return in the first quarter was the first kickoff return for a touchdown given up by the Gamecocks this season and the first allowed since Andre Debose of Florida scored on a 99-yard return on Nov. 13, 2010.
• Freshman defensive back Victor Hampton’s 55-yard kickoff return to open the second half is the longest kickoff return of the season for the Gamecocks. Hampton finished with six kickoff returns for 168 yards.