South Carolina Football vs. Old Dominion:
Other Notes
- Vershon Lee, Boogie Huntley, Luke Doty, and Debo Williams were game captains for South Carolina football.
- USC's opening drive strip sack came courtesy of Kyle Kennard. However, JT Geer was right there, as well, and might have made the same play a split second later if Kennard didn't. Debo Williams recovered.
- The Carolina defense rotated heavily and rotated early.
- Josiah Thompson (who started) and Tree Babalade rotated at left tackle. Trovon Baugh also rotated in some at right guard, splitting time with Torricelli Simpkins.
- The offensive line really struggled early.
- The Gamecock defensive backs gave a lot of cushion and got beat a few times in the early portions of the game. They adjusted in the 2nd quarter and were much better. After the deep shot that beat safety DQ Smith, Old Dominion had just 11 more yards for the rest of the 1st half.
- Rocket Sanders showed more as a running back than any Gamecock back in quite some time. He showcased power, speed, patience, and vision with the ball in his hands.
- Nyck Harbor saved a touchdown after a LaNorris Sellers fumble, chasing the returner down and shoving him out of bounds. O'Donnell Fortune picked the ball off in the end zone on the next play.
- In the first half, four players got carries (Rocket Sanders, LaNorris Sellers, Oscar Adaway, and Juju McDowell).
- Juju McDowell showed some juice as a punt returner but also made a bad decision to field a punt at the 5-yard line.
- As a passer, LaNorris Sellers did not have a good day. He missed some open receivers (especially high), and he often pulled the ball down to run as his confidence waned. Wide open receivers, primarily in the flat, were not even seen as Sellers elected to throw the ball into traffic or take off and run.
- The Gamecock defensive ends were spectacular, especially Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart.
- Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains seemed afraid to call pass plays, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers didn't appear comfortable with the ball in his hands.
- South Carolina football fans booed the offense on multiple occasions.
- The USC defense was very good after the huge blown coverage play on the opening drive but had a touch stretch in the 3rd quarter due to some fatigue after multiple quick offensive drives.
- The Gamecocks used the 3-3-5 as its primary defense on 2 drives, forcing one punt and intercepting one pass.