April 11, 2015

Photo Gallery | Post-Game Quotes | Final Statistics

QUICK CLIPS

>> Jerell Adams 1st Qtr. Catch

>> Darius Rucker 1st Qtr. TD Catch

>> Michael Scarnecchia 1st Qtr. TD Run

>> Deebo Samuel 2nd Qtr. Catch

>> Kevin Crosby 2nd Qtr. Catch

>> Jasper Sasser 2nd Qtr. INT

>> Jasper Sasser 4th Qtr. INT

>> Scarnecchia to Googer 4th Qtr. TD

>> Women’s Basketball at Halftime

>> Women’s Soccer at Halftime

>> Golf at Halftime

>> Former Players at Halftime

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina fans had their first chance to watch the Gamecock football team in action at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday afternoon, as the team held its annual Spring Game. The Black team would come away with the 14-13 win after scoring in the waning seconds on a pass from Michael Scarnecchia to Terry Googer.

The Garnet team used some big plays in the passing game to open the scoring on the game’s very first drive. Led by Connor Mitch at quarterback, the offense went 70 yards on four plays. Mitch set up the touchdown with a 42-yard completion to Jerell Adams. The team then turned to its secret weapon to convert, with Mitch hitting country music star Darius Rucker in the weak-side corner of the end zone for the 7-0 lead.

On the Black team’s second drive of the game, late in the first quarter, Scarnecchia tied the game up at 7-7 on a two-yard keeper. It was a fitting end to a grind-it-out drive that went 15 plays for 69 yards and just over five minutes. The running combination of Darius Paulk and Shon Carson were able to convert two third downs and a fourth-and-one and keep the scoring drive alive.

In the second quarter, Garnet would account for all the scoring to take a 13-7 lead into halftime. Elliott Frye kicked a 48-yard field goal in the first drive of the second quarter, longer than any field goal he hit in the 2014 season. On the ensuing possession for the Black team, Jasper Sasser stepped in front of a Perry Orth pass, which would set up a 29-yard field goal for Frye after a six-play drive stalled for the Garnet.

Playing with a rolling clock for the second half, the defense continued its strong day with just 63 yards allowed in the entire third quarter, leading to a trio of punts from newcomer Sean Kelly. Mitch closed his day out after the second drive of the third quarter, finishing 10-of-16 with 183 yards and a touchdown for the Garnet side.

Perry Orth switched over to the Garnet side to start the fourth quarter, and moved the ball into the redzone looking to add to the 13-7 lead. The offense would get to the nine yard line before a tipped pass would find the waiting arms of Sasser for his second pick of the afternoon. The Black team would take over at its own five yard line, looking to go 95 yards with 4:22 to play.

After completing just 2-of-7 passing attempts in the first half, Scarnecchia locked in for the second half as the Black team’s primary quarterback. He started eventual game-winning drive with three consecutive completions that covered 67 yards total and put the Black side all the way to the Garnet 28. A sack by Kelsey Griffin would set them back, but Scarnecchia hit Deebo Samuels over the middle for 33 yards to set the team up at the two. After trying to rush it in, the Black team was able to beat the clock on an inside slant route to Googer as the final seconds ticked off.

KEY STAT

Michael Scarnecchia went 10-of-12 passing for 162 yards over the final three quarters of the game. In total, the Carolina quarterbacks were a combined 33-of-54 for 511 yards and two touchdowns.

NOTABLES

• Tight end Kevin Crosby led all receivers with three catches for 70 yards, including a long of 39.
• Rod Talley led the team with five rushes for 43 yards as part of the Garnet team, including a run of 16 yards.
• On defense, Kelsey Griffin had 5.5 tackles and one sack. Darius English totaled four tackles (two for loss), a sack and a pass breakup.
• In his first time punting for the team, Sean Kelly averaged 41.8 yards on four punts, with a long of 51 yards.

QUOTABLE South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier

Opening Statement
It seems like we got a lot of plays in for six offensive linemen the whole day. We had us a little bit of a game. It was neat to see Michael Scarnechia connect with Deebo Samuel and get down to the one or two yard line and then hit Terry Googer on the slant there with the clock running out. It added a little bit of suspense to an otherwise not a super duper offensive game. I thought all of the quarterbacks did some pretty good things out there today. I wish we would get the ball of out their hands. They like to take off running every now and then. It looked like there was a lot of sacks out there that would have happened if the quarterbacks would have been live. But Connor Mitch threw for 180 yards, 10 out of 16. Scarnechia was 12 and 19, 191 yards. Perry Orth was 11-of-20. They all seem to have their stats very similar every time we scrimmage. That shows the kind of team we are right there. I don’t think anyone got hurt seriously and there was some good hustle out there. I think the defense looked good playing just two coverages. There were no mistakes. When you only play two coverages it’s hard to make a mistake. That is certainly something we can improve upon what we did last year as far as everyone knowing what to do. That gives you a chance. Spring practice is over. We’re ready to get in for the summer, ready to finish out the semester academically as strong as we can. That’s the main thing these next two weeks is to finish academically and get ready for the summer.

2015 Spring Game Awards

Most Improved
OL Alan Knott
DL David Johnson
WR Terry Googer
Spur T.J. Gurley
LB Jonathan Walton
TE Jacob August
S Jordan Diggs
CB Rico McWilliams
RB David Williams
QB Perry Orth / Connor Mitch
Special Teams Drew Williams
Freshman-Defense Jalen Henry
Freshman-Offense Michael Scarnecchia

Everyday Effort Award D.J. Park / Donell Stanley – Offense; Gerald Dixon, Jr. / T.J. Holloman – Defense

Everyday Hustle Award Darius Paulk – Offense / Phillip Dukes – Defense

Everyday Attitude Award Will Sport – Offense / Bryson Allen-Williams – Defense

Outstanding Weight Room Kevin Crosby – Offense / Sherrod Pittman – Defense

Outstanding Walk-Ons Matrick Belton – Offense / Scott Grant – Defense

Harold White GPA Devin Potter – Offense / Chris Lammons – Defense / Landon Ard – Special Teams

Big Plays – Spring Practice Deebo Samuels – Offense / Skai Moore – Defense

Dr. Harris Pastides Outstanding Student/Athlete Representative of the Univ. of S. C.
Jerell Adams

Joe Morrison Offensive Player of the Spring Alan Knott
Rex Enright Defensive Player of the Spring Marquavius Lewis
Jim Carlen Special Teams Player of the Spring Elliott Frye

Independence Bowl MVPs Pharoh Cooper – Offense / Skai Moore – Defense