South Carolina Football: Ranking the top-15 offensive performances in Gamecock history
By Kevin Miller
South Carolina Football’s No. 9 Greatest Offensive Performance of All-Time:
Sidney Rice and Syvelle Newton vs. Florida Atlantic
The competition level was not particularly high when Florida Atlantic rolled into Columbia in 2006, but what took place on the field was impressive no matter who was lined up across from the Gamecocks. Against the Owls, Sidney Rice and Syvelle Newton had career days and set a few records along the way.
Newton had been in the middle of a back-and-forth with head coach Steve Spurrier regarding the starting quarterback position. Sometimes, Spurrier would start Newton. Sometimes, Spurrier would start Blake Mitchell. Sometimes, he’d even play them both in the same game. Against FAU, though, Newton was the man for the Gamecocks.
#13 hit Rice for five touchdowns against the Owls and could have had more as the final connection between the two came just two minutes into the start of the second half. In the end, Rice’s five touchdown catches set a new South Carolina record and tied the all-time record in the SEC. Newton’s 5 touchdown tosses tied a Gamecock record held by Steve Taneyhill and Tommy Suggs that has since been surpassed by Spencer Rattler.