Aug. 28, 2014

Recap | Final Stats | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2

GENERAL NOTES

• South Carolina loses to Texas A&M 52-28, its first loss in the season opener under Steve Spurrier in 10 seasons.
• Captains for South Carolina were senior safety Brison Williams, senior quarterback Dylan Thompson, senior offensive lineman A.J. Cann and senior defensive lineman J.T. Surratt.
• Attendance for the Thursday night opener at Williams Brice Stadium: 82,847.
• The setback ends an 18-game home winning streak, which was the longest in NCAA Division I. The loss was the first at home for South Carolina since a 16-13 defeat against Auburn on Oct. 1, 2011.
• Texas A&M takes the first meeting between the two schools.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

• Gamecock senior quarterback Dylan Thompson completed two touchdown passes (69 to Nick Jones, 46 to Damiere Byrd) that measured over 40 yards each in the first half, the first time a South Carolina QB has accomplished that feat since Blake Mitchell found Kenny McKinley for two 43-yard strikes in the 2006 Liberty Bowl against Houston.
• Thompson’s four TD passes set a new career high and matches Connor Shaw’s four during the Mississippi State game a year ago. His 366 yards is the most for a Gamecock since Connor Shaw tossed for 356 against Tennessee on Oct. 27, 2012. The 40 pass attempts were the most since his winning start at Clemson on Nov. 24, 2012.
• Senior wide receiver Nick Jones made five catches for a career-best 113 yards and two touchdowns. The two scores ties his career best from Georgia last year.
• Sophomore wide receiver Pharoh Cooper set new career highs with three receptions for 58 yards and one TD.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

• The Gamecocks’ halftime deficit of 17 points (31-14) stands as the worst for South Carolina since the 2009 Outback Bowl against Iowa (21-0). The 31 points Texas A&M scored in the first half is the most South Carolina has allowed in a half since Georgia tallied 31 on Sept. 12, 2009.
• The 52 points Texas A&M scored is the most against a South Carolina team since Auburn compiled 56 in the 2010 SEC Championship Game (Dec. 4). The 680 total yards is the most South Carolina has allowed in history, overtaking the 651 allowed at Arkansas on Nov. 3, 2007. It’s only the fifth time South Carolina has given up 600 yards or more in a game in recorded history.
• Kenny Hill’s 511 passing yards is the most the Gamecocks have allowed to a single passer, surpassing the 485 by Georgia’s Eric Zeier on Sept. 3, 1994. The Aggies’ 511 yards through the air tops the 402 given up to Florida on Nov. 11, 1995.
• Sophomore safety Chris Moody had eight tackles to lead the Gamecocks. He had seven in 12 games played during his redshirt freshman campaign in 2013.
• Sophomore linebacker Skai Moore posted his first solo sack when he corralled Kenny Hill in the third quarter.
• Sophomore safety Chaz Elder had six tackles, a new career best. Sophomore cornerback Rico McWilliams’ five tackles also set a new Carolina high.
• Freshman cornerback Al Harris Jr. had five tackles and a pass break-up in his first career outing.
• Freshman linebacker Bryson Allen-Williams had three tackles and a quarterback hurry in his inaugural time in the Garnet and Black.