South Carolina football: The most iconic moments in the Palmetto State rivalry

2012

Clemson entered this matchup with a ton of momentum, having won seven straight games, and facing off against a Carolina team that was playing without its starting quarterback.

Connor Shaw was injured in the previous contest versus Wofford, leaving sophomore Dylan Thompson to get the nod. This game had some memorable moments from a South Carolina perspective as the Gamecocks battled to beat the Tigers in Death Valley 27-17.

First, was Thompson’s 300-yd, three-touchdown performance. The sophomore signal caller showed poise in the surprise start, marching his team up and down the field on a talented Clemson defense.

Second, was the 4.5 sack performance from superstar defensive end Jadeveon Clowney. The sack total is said to be the highest ever by a single player in Memorial Stadium’s near 80-year history.

And finally, the most viewed play in the game was DJ Swearinger’s upending of Clemson running back Andre Ellington.

The game was one of the better battles in the series’ recent history, as the contest wasn’t decided until late in the fourth quarter. It would be South Carolina’s fourth in a streak of five consecutive wins.