Sept. 24, 2012

University of South Carolina gridiron standouts Connor Shaw and Ace Sanders have been recognized by the Southeastern Conference for their performances in the Gamecocks’ 31-10 win over Missouri on Saturday.

Shaw, a 6-1, 207-pound junior quarterback from Flowery Branch, Ga., was named the co-Offensive Player of the Week. After throwing an incompletion on his first attempt, Shaw connected on a school-record 20-consecutive passes to finish the day 20-for-21 for 249 yards and two touchdowns in the Gamecocks’ 31-10 win over Missouri. The completion percentage of .952 was the best in school history, while his 20-straight completions is tied for the second-longest stretch in SEC history. Shaw threw touchdown passes of 23 and 13 yards and also rushed 12 times for 41 yards.

Sanders, a 5-8, 175-pound junior punt return specialist from Bradenton, Fla., was named co-Special Teams Player of the week. Sanders had six punt returns for 106 yards in the Gamecocks’ 31-10 win over Missouri. He made the key play of the game when, with the game scoreless early in the second quarter, he fielded a Tiger punt at his own 47-yard line and returned it 49 yards to the Missouri 4, setting up the first score of the game. The Gamecocks logged 164 return yards on the day, compared to Mizzou’s 40. The Carolina wide receiver also hauled in a 23-yard touchdown pass in the contest.

Shaw, Sanders and the rest of the 4-0 and sixth-ranked Gamecocks begin preparations for Saturday’s SEC battle at Kentucky (1-3). The game will kick at 7 p.m. ET at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington and will be televised nationally by ESPN2.