Gamecocks vs Vanderbilt: A sigh of relief

The city of Columbia, SC let out a huge sigh of relief just after 10:00 pm Thursday night. The South Carolina Gamecocks, on the strength of a battered, bruised and not quite bloody, but certainly roughed up Connor Shaw won their first game of the year, 17-14 over Vanderbilt.

Marcus Lattimore did his part as well, running for 110 yards and two touchdowns in his first game action since half way through the 2011 season.

Things started off well enough. Despite two early turnovers, the Cocks went up 10-0.

Vandy came roaring back, though, and at the half it was 10-10. Then, the ‘Dores went up 13-10. Panic set in.

Shaw still wasn’t back from a shoulder injury, Dillon Thompson wasn’t very good and SC wasn’t giving Lattimore the ball.

Almost on cue, #14 came back, throwing arm barely mobile.

He darted, he dashed, and he made a dive for the end zone. He was hurt once more.

Lattimore did the rest of the work on the drive and scored Carolina’s final touchdown. It would be the last score of the game.

SC’s defense stepped up multiple times when Vandy had the ball in Carolina territory. They forced a bunch of 3-and-outs, got to Jordan Rodgers a ton, and made enough plays in the secondary to win.

It wasn’t pretty (most first games aren’t for these Gamecocks), but with the win, SC moved to 5-1 since the start of last year in games decided by five or fewer points (thanks to Darryl Slater of the Post and Courier for that stat).

The win also moved SC one step closer to another 10 win season, another trip to Atlanta, and a first ever trip to a BCS bowl game.