South Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina Post-Game Notes

Nov. 23, 2013

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GENERAL

No. 12/11 South Carolina’s 70-10 win over Coastal Carolina in the first meeting between the schools extends the school record home winning streak to 17 games, the longest current home winning streak in the country.
The win is the 75th in head coach Steve Spurrier’s tenure at South Carolina.
It is also the 40th Gamecock win in a four-year period, which also extends a school record. South Carolina now has four-consecutive seasons with at least nine wins.
The South Carolina winning streak over teams from outside the BCS automatic qualifying conferences is now 32 games. Carolina’s last loss to a non-BCS team came against ECU in 1999.
The win pushes the Gamecocks’ winning streak against non-conference opponents to 13 games.

OFFENSE

Senior quarterback Connor Shaw established a new school record with 25 wins as starting quarterback. Shaw is now 25-5 as a starter for the Garnet & Black, besting Todd Ellis’ record of 24-16-3.
The 70 points is the most of the Spurrier Era (previously 69 points vs. Troy in 2010) and the fifth-most in school history. The Gamecocks scored 28 first-quarter points for the first time since scoring 28 in the first 15 minutes against Troy in 2010. The last time South Carolina scored 28 points in a quarter was the third quarter against ECU in 2011.
The 639 total yards of offense matches the total posted against Kentucky in 2011 for the most in the Spurrier Era. The total is just 17 yards off the school record. The 352 rushing yards are the most in Spurrier’s tenure, eclipsing the previous high of 288 vs. Kentucky in 2011. The team also matched the record total of 32 first downs under Spurrier (Kentucky 2011 and Arkansas 2013).
Sophomore tailback Shon Carson earned the first starting nod of his career.
Three Gamecocks recorded their first-career touchdowns today – freshman tailback Jamari Smith, freshman wide receiver Pharoh Cooper and Carson.
Cooper had a career day, scoring a touchdown in the air and on the ground. He had 168 all-purpose yards, posting career-highs in receiving yards (42) and rushing yards (81). He also had a 71-yard run and a 24-yard reception, both career longs.
Aided by a career-long run of 52 yards, Smith posted 103 yards, the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.
Sophomore tailback Brandon Wilds returned to action for the first time since the Central Florida game on Sept. 28. He ran for 27 yards on his first carry of the game and scored two touchdowns, tying a career high.
Other offensive career highs – freshman wide receiver Kwinton Smith brought down a17-yard catch and freshman tailback Devin Potter had a 14-yard reception, both career longs.

DEFENSE

A pair of sophomores recorded the first starts of their career – defensive end Gerald Dixon and defensive tackle Phillip Dukes.
Junior spur Sharrod Golightly collected his second career fumble recovery and added a return of 23 yards.
Junior cornerback Victor Hampton caught his fifth-career interception and sophomore free safety T.J. Gurley brought in his first-career interception.
Other defensive career highs – Redshirt freshman T.J. Holloman matched a career-high with seven tackles and recorded his first career sack. Redshirt freshman Darius English recorded six tackles. Freshman defensive tackle Kelsey Griffin added five tackles. Freshman linebacker Larenz Bryant had three tackles. Sophomore defensive tackle Deon Green recorded his first-career tackle for loss and posted two tackles on the day.