Kentucky's Will Stein out-smarts Beamer Ball with 2-point conversion to stun South Carolina in OT

The South Carolina Gamecocks desperately needed a victory, playing the Kentucky Wildcats at home after an 0-2 start in SEC play. For the better part of four quarters, it looked like head coach Shane Beamer was going to get a much-needed win at home. 

But disaster struck in overtime, as Beamer Ball was bested by a gutsy decision by Kentucky head coach Will Stein. South Carolina took a 34-27 lead in the first overtime, thanks to a LaNorris Sellers touchdown pass to Maurice Brown II. South Carolina's defense could not stop Wildcat quarterback Kenny Minchey, who found Henry Boyer for a touchdown. 

With the game on the line, Stein had a decision to make. He could either kick the extra point and force a second overtime, or go for two for the win. He chose the latter, and it paid off. Minchey found Willie Rodriguez in the back of the end zone and pulled off a stunner that shocked the Gamecocks 35-34 at home: 

The victory gives Kentucky its largest come-from-behind road victory in school program history, as the Wildcats trailed 17-0 in the second quarter. Prior to Saturday night's win, the Wildcats were 0-for-49 under former head coach Mark Stoops when trailing by 14 or more on the road. This is the second huge SEC road victory for head coach Stein, who went on the road just two weeks ago and took down the then-No. 9 ranked Texas A&M Aggies in College Station. 

South Carolina can't pull out a must-needed win at home

Of course, you have to tip your cap to Stein for making the call, and for Minchey for pulling off what was an incredible throw. But South Carolina once again blew a huge lead it had at home, which we have seen this season. Two weeks ago against Mississippi State in Williams-Brice, the Gamecocks had a 16-0 lead before falling 41-34 to the Bulldogs.  

South Carolina played well all night, and despite blowing the early lead, continued to respond to Kentucky's scores offensively. Following a pair of touchdowns given up by South Carolina's defense in the third quarter, the Gamecocks took back the lead off a 15-yard touchdown pass from Sellers, helped by a long 74-yard run by the quarterback. 

But Seller's turnover issues cropped up once again, as a fumble he had early in the fourth quarter set up a Kentucky field goal to tie it at 27. 

While Beamer talked all week about his team having a hell of a practice, the Gamecocks did at least back it up on the field. The team as a whole, on both sides of the ball, looked a lot better in this game. But Stein's gutsy play-call to go for the win in the end out-bested Beamer Ball. 

Shane Beamer's time in Columbia is likely coming to an end

Losing to a just-barely ranked Kentucky team just isn't enough to justify keeping Beamer, who with the loss falls to 35-33 across his six seasons. With games looming against the likes of Florida, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Georgia, it's hard to see this team even making a bowl game at this rate. 

Gamecock athletic director Jeremiah Donati just might want to get ready to pay Beamer his $27.9 million buyout in a few weeks. Next week, South Carolina goes on the road to play a Florida team coming off a loss to Missouri this weekend.

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