After the Sandstorm: Gamecocks earn historic win over Tennessee

Join Kendall Smith and Collyn Taylor on After the Sandstorm following South Carolina’s 63-38 win over the No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers in week 12 of college football action.

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MORE: South Carolina beats No. 5 Tennessee in shootout at home

By Michael Sauls

South Carolina secured its biggest victory in the Shane Beamer era on Saturday, upsetting No. 5 Tennessee 63-38.

The 25 point win is the largest margin of victory South Carolina has had over Tennessee in program history.

The Gamecocks jumped on the Volunteer defense early, putting together a solid nine play, 75 yard drive that was capped by a touchdown pass to Jaheim Bell. 

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In true Tennessee fashion though, Josh Huepuel and his offense sprinted down the field on the ensuing drive. It only took the Vols four plays and 64 seconds to knot the game up at seven points apiece.

Spencer Rattler and South Carolina responded with 14 unanswered points to end the first quarter and go up 21-7 at the end of the first quarter. 

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Rattler’s second touchdown of the game was on a beautiful pass to Josh Vann who took the ball 60 yards to the end zone. His third of the game came late in the first quarter when he found Juju McDowell in the flats. McDowell juked a Tennessee defender out of his shoes and was in the end zone 11 yards later. 

Tennessee finally responded in the second half three scores of its own, but it still wasn’t enough to overtake South Carolina’s lead. 

Hendon Hooker led two touchdown drives of at least 11 plays each. The scores helped Tennessee outscore South Carolina in the second quarter. 

While the Tennessee offense started to find its rhythm, Rattler kept his foot on the gas. After Dakereon Joyner scored on a one yard quarterback keeper, Rattler came during South Carolina’s next possession and threw his fourth touchdown of the first half. 

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The 18-yard pass to Vann put the Gamecocks up 35-17 with just under two minutes left in the first half. Hooker was able to lead an excellent two minute drill though, and the Volunteers scored with seconds left on the clock to bring the score to 35-24 going into the half. 

In the first half the Gamecocks put up 335 total yards of offense and averaged 9.3 yards per play. For comparison, South Carolina failed to total more than 335 yards in an entire game five times this season. 

Rattler himself finished the first half 14-for-19 with 249 passing yards and four touchdowns. Like the offense as a whole, he hadn’t thrown for over 200 yards in a total game since South Carolina’s matchup with S.C. State.

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Both offenses slowed in the third quarter, but South Carolina’s defense stepped up big time to make up for it.

Clayton White’s defense held Tennessee to one score in the third quarter and outside of that drive forced the Volunteers to punt twice, holding the Volunteers to just under three yards per play on those drives.

South Carolina’s lone score of the third quarter came off a three-yard rush by Juice Wells. The touchdown was Wells’ line one in a game that he dominated. He finished the game with 11 catches and 177 receiving yards.

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The Gamecock defense stole all the momentum at the start of the fourth quarter. Hooker fumbled the ball in Tennessee’s own red zone and Jordan Burch recovered the ball at the Volunteer 17-yard line to all but ice the game.

Hooker was injured on the play and was replaced by Joe Milton the following plan. Hooker finished the game 25-for-42 with 247 yards and three touchdowns.

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The icing on the cake came a few plays later when Dakereon Joyner scored a three yard rush. Joyner got involved in every aspect of the offensive game plan on Saturday — tallying passing, receiving and rushing yards.

Rattler iced the game with just over two minutes left in the game when he connected with Jalen Brooks for a 20-yard touchdown pass, his sixth of the game. He finished the game 30-for-37 through the air for 438 yards.

Milton was able to lead the Volunteers down the field late in the game throwing a touchdown pass to bring the score to 63-38 with 1:30 left.

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