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The South Carolia Gamecocks special teams were truly special as they scored 20 points in the 38-10 win over the SC State Bulldogs on a rainy Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd at Williams Brice Stadium. The kickoff was delayed by 2 1/2 hours due weather issues and the Gamecock offense was also late showing up as they did not have a first down in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs scored first on a 21-yard field goal by Nico Cavanillis Alti, with 4;02 remaining in the first quarter. Carolina did not score until 2:15 to go in the first half when Vacari Swain, the reigning SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, returned a punt 65 yards for a touchdown. The Gamecocks scored on the next two possessions when Swain returned another punt 42 yards for a touchdown, and William Joyce, kicked a 49-yard FG to give South Carolina a 17-3 lead at the half. Swain tied a school record for punt returns for touchdowns in a season with his third TD in just two games.
The three punt returns marked the most in a season in the NCAA since Dante Pettis (University of Washington) returned three in 2017.
Carolina took the second half kickoff and marched down the field in eight plays and 65 yards capped of by a Oscar Adaway III 5-yard touchdown run for the Gamecocks’ offense first touchdown in the game, and they led, 24-3.The South Carolina defense got into the scoring column when Gamecock linebacker, Jaron Williis scooped up a Bulldog fumble and raced 46 yards for a touchdown. Carolina’s final score of the night came when quarterback, LaNorris Sellars, connected with Vandrevius Jacobs on 35-yard TD pass to give SC 38-3 lead with 2:05 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
In the 4th quarter Carolina played all their reserve players and SC State was able to score on a 9-yard pass from Ryan Stubblefield to
Nicholas Sowell to round out the scoring.
After the game Gamecock Coach Shane Beamer talked about his special teams. Beamer said. ‘“They’ve created an identity already where people are going to stay in their seats on fourth down to see what happens … and it’s great to see some of the things we did tonight when South Carolina State punted the ball.“
When Beamer was asked if he was concerned about South Carolina’s inability to run the ball the first two he said that he would be lying if he said that he was not concerned.
The No. 11- ranked Gamecocks, are now 2-0 and will open SEC play as they host Vanderbilt (2-0) in a 7:45 p.m. contest at Williams Brice Stadium next Saturday.