COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Alabama controlled the clock and moved the ball for much of the first half Saturday, but red-zone stalls and a string of second-quarter interceptions allowed South Carolina to pull away for a 37-12 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The teams combined for 10 turnovers, five apiece. South Carolina led 17-9 at halftime and outscored the Jaguars 20-3 after the break. South Alabama fell to 6-5 with the loss.
Field Goals Instead of Touchdowns
The Jaguars dominated possession in the first half, holding the ball for 20:45 compared with 9:15 for the Gamecocks. South Alabama ran 45 offensive plays to South Carolina’s 24 before halftime and outgained the hosts 207-193.
Two early drives covered 14 plays each and consumed more than six minutes apiece, but both ended in field goals. South Alabama twice reached the South Carolina 2-yard line early in the game and came away with three points each time. All four of the Jaguars’ field goals came from 31 yards or closer, with three of them inside 30 yards.
Interception Return Shifts Momentum
The game turned in the second quarter. With 8:58 left in the period, quarterback Hunter Vaughn threw toward the left flat, and South Carolina’s Brison Williams intercepted the pass and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown to make it 17-6.
That interception started a stretch of three consecutive South Alabama possessions that ended in interceptions.
Brandon Bridge replaced Vaughn late in the first half and attempted one pass on a drive that reached the 2-yard line. South Alabama settled for a field goal with two seconds left before halftime to make it 17-9. Vaughn returned to the game in the fourth quarter.
Statistical Leaders
Vaughn completed 15 of 23 passes for 151 yards and was intercepted four times. Bridge, playing for the first time in three games, finished 2 of 11 for 19 yards.
Kendall Houston led the South Alabama rushing attack with 68 yards on 16 carries, and Terrance Timmons added 63 yards on 17 attempts.
Shavarez Smith caught five passes for 82 yards. Jereme Jones also had five receptions for 41 yards, and Wes Saxton caught two passes for 22 yards. Five other Jaguars caught a pass.
For South Carolina, quarterback Dylan Thompson completed 10 of 17 passes for 237 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Pharoh Cooper caught three passes for 95 yards, and Nick Jones made three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown. The South Alabama defense held running back Brandon Wilds to 77 yards on 16 carries and David Williams to 65 yards on 12 carries.
South Carolina finished with a 454-289 advantage in total offense, including edges of 210-119 on the ground and 244-170 through the air.
Record Punt for McKee
South Alabama punter Brandon McKee set a school record with a 76-yard punt on his first attempt of the game. All four of his punts were downed inside the South Carolina 20-yard line, and he averaged 48.8 yards per kick.
What the Coaches Said
South Alabama head coach Joey Jones credited his team’s effort against the Southeastern Conference opponent.
“One thing about our kids is they know how to fight,” Jones said. “We were out-manned out there, and we were toe-to-toe with them for a while but we just couldn’t finish.”
Jones pointed to the turnovers and the missed red-zone opportunities. “We moved the ball offensively against an SEC defense,” he said. “We turned the ball over multiple times in the first half and we didn’t get it done in the red zone.”
“Our guys fought, and I am real proud of the way we came and played,” Jones added. “They outplayed us.”
South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier called it “a big win for us” and said the Jaguars were “a pretty good team.”
“All those turnovers – we’ve been so good all year protecting the ball and taking care of it, but it hit us this game,” Spurrier said. “Fortunately the defense played so well that it wasn’t a factor.”
Up Next
South Alabama returns home to face Navy at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28.
