South Carolina is lucky they were able to get out of their own stadium with a 34-30 win against Missouri, their first win in five years. With a 21-6 lead at halftime, it seemed like the game was wrapped up with a neat bow on top of it, but instead, head coach Shane Beamer had to make this game harder than it should be.
In the first half, it was all South Carolina, with the offense firing on all cylinders and quarterback LaNorris Sellers able to find guys open downfield. Let's not forget the performance of the defense because they were able to hold a Brady Cook-led offense to just six points in the first half. Cook ended up being a go for the game as a true game-time decision, but it was evident he wasn't fully healthy.
However, things took a turn in the second half when the Gamecocks suddenly struggled to score in the third quarter, something that has plagued South Carolina all season long. While Missouri wasn't putting the ball in the endzone, they were ending their drives with some sort of points, which is something Beamer couldn't understand the concept of.
On South Carolina's first two drives of the second half, the offense turned the ball over on downs, but the second time it meant something. Beamer decided to go for it on fourth down in his own territory, and the turnover gave life to the Tiger's offense.
The fourth quarter is where things got really interesting. the Tigers were suddenly able to find the endzone and ended up taking the lead in the fourth quarter, 22-21. The Gamecocks were able to score on the very next drive but were unable to convert a two-point conversion to make it a seven-point game.
Missouri themselves went down and scored with just over a minute left on the clock. Silence fell over Williams-Brice Stadium as every fan sat down in wonder of what would happen next. The Tigers were able to convert their two-point conversion to make it a three-point game, forcing the Gamecocks to either tie it or go and win it with a touchdown.
With the way the Gamecocks struggled offensively in the second half, it was unknown what the Gamecocks would be able to do in so little time, but with three timeouts, it was time to go to work. What gave the Gamecocks life on the drive was a huge 39-yard play on a pass from Sellers to wide receiver Dalevon Campbell which put the Gamecocks at the very least in field goal range.
A 15-yard shovel pass and run by running back Raheim Sanders for a touchdown all but iced the game for the Gamecocks with 15 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The defense just needed to come up and make a couple of plays to end the game, and they did just that.
IT’S… IT’S BEAUTIFUL!!! https://t.co/AnbD9l7BOX pic.twitter.com/5PCjHrSBue
— Gamecock Football (@GamecockFB) November 17, 2024
Transfer EDGE rusher Kyle Kennard did what he does best and got to Cook for a sack, forcing Missouri to call their final timeout, and then an interception by Jalon Kilgore sealed the win for South Carolina.
The game was a lot closer than it needed to be because if Beamer had kicked a field goal or punted on a few plays, the game could have been very different, but it all worked out in the end for Beamer and the Gamecocks.
This win marks the first time South Carolina has beaten Missouri since 2018 and marks Beamer's first win over the tigers in his career at South Carolina. This win also keeps the Gamecocks College Football Playoff hopes alive now moving from a 10% chance to make it to a 22% chance. A lot would still have to happen, but it is not out of the real of possibility yet.
South Carolina will host Wofford for their Senior Day next week as their final warmup game before they take on in-state rival Clemson in their final game of the season.