Football . October 17, 2020

Gamecocks Score 30-22 Victory Over No. 15 Auburn

South Carolina Moves to 2-2, Plays Next at LSU

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn was tired of hearing he didn’t have the ball skills to be a truly exceptional cornerback.

His play against No. 15 Auburn proved he did — and led the Gamecocks to a breakthrough win over the Tigers on Saturday.

Horn had the first two interceptions of his career and his pass break up led to a third — all which South Carolina turned into touchdowns — for a 30-22 victory that was its first win over Auburn in 87 years.

Horn is a junior who’s been a lockdown corner most of his career.

“If a team throws at him like that every game, he’ll have a game like that every game,” Gamecocks receiver Shi Smith said of Horn, the son of NFL receiver Joe Horn.

Horn was assigned to Auburn receiver Seth Williams, one of the best receivers in the Southeastern Conference, averaging 18 yards a catch. Williams finished with four catches for 74 yards, but no scores.

“I heard a lot of people saying I (don’t) have any ball skills, which is crazy to me,” Horn said. “I just knew the day would come when I’d have a lot of opportunities to make plays.”

South Carolina made plenty of them throughout to beat Auburn for the first time in 87 years.

Kevin Harris ran for two touchdowns, Smith added a 10-yard TD catch and Horn and the defense did enough to stop Bo Nix and the Tigers’ attack.

Auburn (2-2) had won eight straight in the series and jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the opening 10 minutes. But Nix, the sophomore quarterback, threw three picks and the Gamecocks (2-2) cashed in each time to win consecutive games for the first time in more than a year.

Smith had eight catches including his score midway through the third quarter that put South Carolina ahead for good, 20-19.

Auburn was driving on its following series when Nix threw his third interception — and second to c Horn who brought the ball down the left sidelines to the Tigers’ 8. Harris was in the end zone a play later for a 27-19 lead and Auburn could not recover.

The Tigers closed to 30-22 on Anders Carlson’s 22 yard field goal with 6:39 left. Auburn got the ball back once more with 2:15 left and drove to the South Carolina 13. Nix, though, was called for intentional grounding trying to avoid a sack and the Gamecocks held on to beat the Tigers for the first time since 1933.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said his team will have to get past this quickly. “We’re just going to have to be big boys and we’re going to have to man up and put it behind us and go into next week and find a way to win,” he said.

South Carolina had not won back-to-back games since defeating Kentucky and then-No. 3 Georgia last season. That win over the Bulldogs was the last time the Gamecocks had beaten a ranked opponent.

Auburn’s offense looked unstoppable the first half and doubled up South Carolina in yardage (243-119) the first 30 minutes — except when Nix put the ball in danger.

Nix had 272 yards passing and was sacked three times.

Bigsby, the Auburn freshman, had 111 yards rushing and went past the century mark for a second straight game.

Auburn linebacker Owen Pappoe said the next week was critical for his team.

“We’re just going to stay together,” Pappoe said.

GAME CHANGER

Leading 30-22 with 2:15 left in the contest, Auburn took the ball and its own 32 and ran 11 plays to the 12-yard line with nine seconds left. Bo Nix tried to rush for the touchdown but Ernest Jones tackled him at the nine. Auburn had a hands to the face penalty on the play, ending the game.

KEY STAT

3 — The Gamecocks intercepted Nix three times on the day, leading to three touchdowns. Jaycee Horn had two picks, the first two of his career while Jaylin Dickerson added one.