Associated Press
COLUMBIA, S.C. ó Stephen Garcia threw two touchdown passes and No. 23 South Carolina ended Vanderbilt’s two-game series win streak ó barely ó with a 14-10 victory Saturday night.
The Gamecocks (6-2, 3-2 SEC) played as flat as they did the past two years against Vanderbilt (2-6, 0-5). Only thanks to Garcia and his young receivers, this time it didn’t cost them the win.
“I know it wasn’t pretty, but it was a real good win over a tough Vandy team,” coach Steve Spurrier said.
Garcia connected with freshman Alshon Jeffery on a 43-yard TD pass with 12:51 remaining for the winning score. Earlier, freshman D.L. Moore caught a 35-yard touchdown from Garcia.
The Commodores got the ball one last time with 4 minutes left and drove to South Carolina’s 25. However, quarterback Larry Smith was called for intentional grounding on 3rd down, then did not get close to the necessary yardage on fourth-and-32.
Spurrier probably won’t put this game among his team’s top offensive efforts. Still, the head ball coach at least got to walk off a winner unlike the past two games in the series.
Spurrier was a perfect 14-0 over the school he calls “Vandy” until 2007 when the heavy underdogs upset the then-sixth ranked Gamecocks 17-6.
The Commodores backed it up a season later, defeating another ranked South Carolina squad 24-17. They almost made it three in a row, but instead lost their sixth straight SEC game dating back to last season.
Ryan Fowler’s 21-yard field goal in the third quarter put the Commodores ahead 10-7 and for a while, it looked like a mix of stellar defense and special teams play would keep them out front.
South Carolina had only one first down on its first three possessions of the third quarter. Vanderbilt punter Brett Upson kept the Gamecocks pinned with boots of 57 yards and 64 yards. Two of his punts were downed at the Gamecock 1.