South Carolina football: 3-2-1 Georgia State

Gamecock Central looks at the key plays, hands out game balls, and asks the burning question from the 35-14 win over Georgia State.

Three Key Plays

1. Fourth down stop

On its first possession, Georgia State effortlessly got into the red zone, sparked by a 41-yard run by former Gamecock Jamyest Williams. South Carolina started to find its footing near the goal line, and forced Georgia State into a fourth and one at the eight. The Panthers went for it.

“We’re here to win the game,” Shawn Elliott said. “You don’t win games with field goals.”

Freshman Nick Emmanwori, who was pressed into duty when RJ Roderick left with an injury, met Tucker Gregg at the line of scrimmage and stuffed him for no gain. The failed conversion sucked the air out of the Panthers, who went three-and-out on their next three possessions, and allowed the Gamecocks time to slowly find a rhythm.

2. Pass to Brooks

South Carolina’s offense was sputtering and in need of a spark. It got it in the form of a 39-yard completion to Jalen Brooks. Spencer Rattler was forced out of the pocket, and as he scrambled to his right, Brooks broke off his route and ran deep. Rattler fired a pass to Brooks, who made a spectacular diving catch for the big gain. 

The Gamecocks went on to score on the possession, Brooks’ catch was the longest play of the game for the Gamecocks, and he had the only two plays of more than 20 yards. 

3. Blocked punt (1)

With no consistency on the offensive side of the ball, South Carolina needed big plays. The biggest was its first blocked punt of the game. Rashad Amos was able to split the protectors and blocked Michael Hayes’ punt. The football went sideways and came to a stop on the grass near the 26-yard line. DQ Smith had time to scoop it up, turn around, and pick up a couple of blocks as he headed for the end zone. 

Just two minutes earlier, Georgia State was ahead. Now the Panethers were in a two-touchdown hole and struggling to move the ball consistently.

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Two Game Balls

Mitch Jeter

A junior, Jeter attempted his first career field goal in the second quarter, a 53-yarder. There was no easing him in. That kick was a line drive, but it went through the uprights for the seventh. Jeter’s next attempt, at the end of the first half, was 51 yards, and this time he boomed it through the uprights with distance to spare. Jeter became the first person in Gamecock history to make two 50-yard field goals in the same game.

Marcellas Dial

Dial finished with three tackles, three pass break-ups, and an interception. He was flagged for pass interference once, but it was a borderline call, and he was beat on a jump ball, but mosty Dial had his side of the field on lockdown. If Georgia State had mustered any sort of passing attack the game might have been a lot closer, but Dial and the secondary made sure that never happened. 

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One Burning Question

Is that the offense?

South Carolina was supposed to build off its performance in the bowl game, plus add an elite quarterback in Rattler who could make up for any shortcomings. Instead, the offense looked more like the feast or famine unit from last season. 

South Carolina was outgained in total yards 311-306. Rattler threw two interceptions and was sacked three times. The run game managed just 79 yards. South Carolina was a pitiful 3-14 on third downs, and was unable to run out the clock in the fourth quarter. The line rarely opened rushing lanes or gave Rattler time to throw. 

South Carolina wasn’t playing with a full deck – receivers Dakereon Joyner and Corey Rucker and running back Christian Beal-Smith missed the game with minor injuries – and the missing players would have opened things up more. It also seemed at times like South Carolina was trying to show as little as possible going into next week. 

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