South Carolina defense controls low scoring spring game

Many entered Williams-Brice Stadium for South Carolina’s annual spring game Friday with hopes of getting their first look at South Carolina’s offense under Mike Shula.

Instead, Clayton White’s defense took center stage under the lights.

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Team Garnet defeated Team Black 10-7 in Friday’s intrasquad scrimmage. The two teams were formed through a draft. The Black team was drafted and coached by the Executive Director of Character and Player Development, Derrick Moore. The Garnet team was drafted and coached by Director of Football Operations George Wynn.

“Look at this. There’s a lot of punts on this thing,” Beamer said, holding up his drive sheet post-game. “…13 punts, or whatever it is on this stat sheet, wasn’t ideal, for sure.”

The garnet group was 2-11 on third down in the evening’s scrimmage. Comparatively, the black squad was 6-14, including 1-2 on fourth.

The Gamecock defense grabbed two interceptions from Noland and Woods, respectively. That number did not include a called-back interception thrown by LaNorris Sellers in the opening quarter.

Most quarterbacks fielded only a couple of drives in the scrimmage’s opening half for Team Black. However, for Team Garnet, Luke Doty took every snap under center.

Doty had 10 completions for 85 yards on 12 attempts in his two quarters of action. He was relieved in the second half by Dante Reno.

Doty has bounced around the offensive room throughout his Gamecock career and is in the conversation for the QB2 spot for 2025.

“Luke’s had a really good spring,” Beamer said. “He’s just a really good football player. He’s a great teammate, he’s a great leader … Improving as a passer. He knows he’s got to improve there, but he can get himself out of trouble, and he’s an athlete.”

Quarterbacks were not “live” during Friday’s scrimmage. If defenders got a hand on the quarterback, the play was ruled dead, and a sack was recorded.

The intrasquad scrimmage got underway with a 29-yard completion from Sellers to Jordan Dingle. After the explosive play, sacks on Sellers stalled Team Black’s drive.

Team Garnet also struggled to move the ball under Doty. The group committed to the run game for its opening two plays before a dropped pass from Maurice Brown II ended the three-and-out possession.

Part of the struggles offensively were detrimental penalties from both offenses. The two squads combined for 11 penalties for 66 yards. Eight of those penalties and 51 of the yards were called on Team Black.

“Probably just the most disappointing thing is just how sloppy we were … it’s almost like we got out here tonight in a stadium and under the lights, and we lost our minds in so many ways,” Beamer said. “And hopefully that’s out of our system, and we’ll be better going forward, because there’s going to be a lot of lights in Mercedes-Benz Stadium when we play Virginia Tech.”

Sellers played two drives before Ohio St. transfer Air Noland took over under center for Team Black. The Gamecocks’ starter for 2025 finished the day with four completions on seven attempts for 53 yards.

Offensive struggles continued for Team Black as Noland entered the game. Noland got the offense moving in his second drive. However, an interception thrown to Myles Norwood ended the possession in Black territory. It was Noland’s final pass of the half. Noland finished his first stint on the field with three completions for 29 yards on six attempts.

Noland briefly returned in the late stages of the third and fourth quarters, but was again unable to move the ball. The transfer threw 10 passes, completing six for 38 yards in the second half.

The ensuing Team Garnet drive broke the ice on the scoreboard with a 35-yard field goal from Mason Love.

Team Black found its momentum again under freshman Cutter Woods. Woods flipped the field with a 51-yard pass to Jacobs in his first pass at Williams-Brice.

A couple plays and a pass to Rowe Jr that set Team Black at the 1 later, Woods walked into the endzone for the game’s first touchdown.

“He’s a winner,” Beamer said of Woods. “…Certainly, there’s plays he’d like to have back tonight, but he’s got a chance to be a really good player.”

Woods’ touchdown seemingly inspired Doty and Garnet. Doty followed Woods’ touchdown drive with one of his own, ending in a diving catch from Malik Clark to put Garnet back up top, 10-7, as time expired in the half.

“Malik bailed me out,” Doty said. “… I think the ball got away from me a little bit, but thankfully, you know, Malik’s out there and he’s a better playmaker than me, so he went and bailed me out with that one.”

Reno’s opening drive saw a quick three-and-out with a running clock. After a quick first down, Wood’s second drive for Black and first of the half stalled out at his own 33.

Noland and Woods exchanged possessions for Black while Reno led the way in the second half for Garnet. However, neither team could score the remainder of the way.

Black got one final chance to take the lead with 1:46 to go, but stalled, sealing the Garnet win.

“We’re on the right track. We made progress this spring,” Beamer said. “Have to get a lot better this summer, but pleased with where we are right now.”

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