The South Carolina Gamecocks traveled down to Starkville, Miss. to take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The game resulted in a Gamecocks win by the score of 14-12.
Most knew this game would be hard-fought but not like this. USC struggled to produce and credit to MSU for not backing down. Bad news of the day was Marcus Lattimore getting his left knee hurt late in the fourth quarter. Luckily, USC survived and got the win. Key word is luckily.
The Gamecocks move to 6-1 (4-1 SEC) on the season and enter a bye week.
The Gamecocks will return to the field on October 29 against Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn.
Here are some quick impressions:
—Lattimore being hurt, well it could be a huge blow to the team’s offensive scheme. Let’s pray it was just a tweak and the bye week allows him to rest. being reported that it is a sprain.
—Shaw was 20 for 27 with 154 yards and 1 TD and 2 INTs. Not his best game but he mustered enough at the end to move the chains in route to a TD. Shaw in the second half was 8 for 9 passing with 73 yards and a TD.
—The USC defense gave up 296 yards total. They played so-so but what has to get better is the interior defensive line as MSU rammed it between the tackles. Need to fix that going forward.
—Third down was not kind for SC as they were 3 of 15 on offense and gave up 7 of 16 to MSU
—DJ Swearinger’s INT late was the play of the game. Sealed the win.
—Alshon had only five catches for 24 yards but made a NFL type catch late for the game-winning TD.
—MSU keyed in on Lattimore before his injury as he had 17 carries for 39 yards and 1 TD.
—USC OL has to man up going forward.
—USC has forced 24 TO’s thus far in 2011.
—Key drive was when Shaw led a 12-play, 79-yard touchdown drive, which was capped by a four-yard touchdown reception by Alshon Jeffery with 3:50 remaining in the game.
—The Refs sucked in this game.
—Today’s win is the 50th for Spurrier as a Gamecock.
Final Take-a-ways
Happy to get win. Scared of the extent of the Lattimore injury. Shaw has to learn how to throw ball away and audbile. USC’s defensive line on the edge is great but need to watch spacing between tackles as the MSU offense was ramming it there. Glad there is a bye week. Still in hunt for SEC East and BCS bowl but must improve on both sides of the ball as there is no easy games left.
Quote of the Game
“Our offense owes a great debt to our defense,” Connor Shaw.
