South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt Post-Game Notes

Sept. 24, 2011

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Offensive Notes

Rory Anderson recorded the first catch of his college career in the first quarter for a gain of two yards. He also snagged a 19-yard pass from Garcia late in the third quarter.
Eric Baker rushed three times for three yards. It was the first time he carried the ball for the Gamecocks since the game vs. Florida Atlantic, 9/19/09 (third game).
Marcus Lattimore scored at the conclusion of the first half on a 52-yard pass play from Stephen Garcia. It was the longest pass play of the year for the Gamecocks. The longest scoring play from scrimmage this year was Melvin Ingram’s 68-yard touchdown run in the second quarter vs. Georgia.
Brandon Wilds and DeAngelo Smith picked up their first career receptions on consecutive plays early in the third quarter on the Gamecocks’ opening drive of the second half.
Ace Sanders tied his career high with a 51-yard reception from Stephen Garcia on the Gamecocks’ opening drive of the second half. The long pass play set up a 22-yard run by Lattimore (eighth of the season, 25th career) that put the Gamecocks up 21-3 mid-way through the third quarter. The scoring drive went 83 yards, which is the longest of the season for the Gamecock offense.
Alshon Jeffery passed Sterling Sharpe for second place on the all-time receiving yards list at South Carolina with a 12-yard reception from Stephen Garcia in the first quarter on the Gamecocks’ sixth play from scrimmage. Jeffery now has 2,526 yards in his career. He needs 255 yards to pass Kenny McKinley as the all-time leader.
Connor Shaw came into the game in the fourth quarter and rushed twice for 14 yards. He was also 1-2 passing for eight yards.
Brandon Wilds picked up his first rush as a Gamecock with a 16-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with three rushes for 22 yards.
Dylan Thompson saw his first action as a Gamecock in the fourth quarter, picking up his first rush for a gain of a yard.
Stephen Garcia recorded his 20th win as a starting quarterback for South Carolina, which ties him with Steve Taneyhill for second on the all-time list. Only Todd Ellis owns more wins in his career (24).

Defensive Notes

Devin Taylor recorded his first sack of the season in the first quarter for a loss of nine yards.
Antonio Allen recovered his third fumble of the season in a defensive touchdown-scoring play. Jadeveon Clowney forced the fumble by Larry Smith. Allen picked the ball up at the Vanderbilt 31-yard line, ran 20 yards, and fumbled the ball at the 11-yard line, into the end zone, where Melvin Ingram fell on the ball for the score. The touchdown was Ingram’s third of the season.
The defensive score was the second time this year that Clowney forced a fumble that resulted in Ingram scoring.
Victor Hampton saw his first action for the Garnet and Black at the cornerback position. He also recorded his first tackle in the game.
Stephon Gilmore intercepted his first pass of the year at the South Carolina 23-yard line with 4:09 left in the second quarter. Gilmore now has five career interceptions.
Jadeveon Clowney forced his second fumble of the game (3rd career) with 2:08 left to go in the third quarter. The fumble was recovered by junior linebacker Quin Smith, which was the first of his career.
The Garnet and Black defense gave up only three points in the first half, the lowest number of points scored on the Gamecocks in the first half this season.
The Gamecock defense held the Commodores to 77 yards of total offense on the night, including only four yards rushing. Vanderbilt was 1-14 on third downs in the contest.