2024-09-01 13:55:02
COLUMBIA — South Carolina football‘s season opener against Old Dominion in Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday was far from a cakewalk but ultimately, the Gamecocks pulled out the 23-19 Week 1 win.
The Monarchs (0-1) took the 19-16 lead with 9:54 in the fourth, leaving the game in the hands of redshirt freshman LaNorris Sellers, who made his first career start for the Gamecocks (1-0). After true freshman Dylan Stewart forced a fumble recovered by DeAndre Jules in the red zone, Sellers delivered. He rushed in the three-yard touchdown with six minutes to go. With 1:29 to play, Jalon Kilgore intercepted Grant Wilson, sealing the win.
South Carolina now shifts focus to its first SEC game of the year, with a highly anticipated match up against Kentucky in Lexington on Sept. 8.
Watch South Carolina football vs Old Dominion on ESPN+ (subscribe today)
Rocket Sanders scores his first touchdown for the Gamecocks, running it in from the 1-yard line after a fumble recovered by Debo Williams on Old Dominion’s first drive of the game. Alex Herrera’s kick was good, South Carolina strikes first.
After the Gamecocks first score of the game, the Monarchs came back with a 72-yard touchdown to tie things 7-7. On the next drive for South Carolina, Herrera’s 40-yard field goal is good to take the 10-7 lead.
The Gamecocks fail to connect on a few receptions on the final drives of the 1st quarter. LaNorris Sellers sacked in final seconds but South Carolina still leads. Kyle Kennard has three solo tackles, all three for a loss and two sacks in the opening quarter.
LaNorris Sellers fumbled on a drive at the 44 yard line, Old Dominion recovered and was at the 9 yard line. Then, Grant Wilson throws an interception in the end zone on the next play, giving the ball back to the Gamecocks. O’Donnell Fortune came down with the ball.
Lightning was spotted within six miles of Williams-Brice Stadium, game will be delayed for at least 30 minutes. Score at the break is still 10-7, South Carolina up with 11:42 in the second quarter.
Following the weather delay, the game resumed at 5:58 p.m., with the first play being a 1st and 10 for South Carolina.
Dylan Stewart sacked Old Dominion quarterback Grant Wilson for a loss of 10 yards, the second sack of the day for the true freshman. A play later, Nick Emmanwori nearly picked off Wilson at the 35. The Monarchs punt, South Carolina still up 10-7.
Kai Kroeger faked a punt on fourth down and threw a pass to Brady Hunt, who fought off his defender to score the touchdown. Before fans could finish celebrating, the play was called back for ineligible player downfield. Herrera comes in to kick the field goal, and South Carolina goes up 13-7 with four minutes to play in the first half.
South Carolina leads by six at the half. The Gamecocks have five sacks so far in the season opener.
The Monarchs make it a ball game with 4:57 to play in the third quarter. Grant Wilson runs in a 36 yard touchdown, but South Carolina’s DeAndre Jules blocks the extra point. South Carolina up three.
Old Dominion ties it with 14 seconds left in the third, with a 40-yard field goal.
South Carolina true freshman Dylan Stewart went down with an unidentified injury with just under 13 minutes to play in the game. Stewart, an edge rusher, has been huge for the Gamecocks on Saturday, logging three tackles and two sacks.
Old Dominion goes up 19-16 with just under 10 minutes to play in the season opener.
Dylan Stewart, comes back from being injured to force a fumble at the 6-yard line.
Sellers runs in his first touchdown of the 2024 season and the Gamecocks reclaim the lead after a huge fumble recovery by DeAndre Jules.
Kilgore comes up with a huge interception to give the ball back to South Carolina with the 23-19 lead and less than two minutes to play.
South Carolina pulls out the Week 1 win.
South Carolina vs. Old Dominion will be on SEC Network. Dave Neal and Aaron Murray will call the game from the booth at Williams-Brice Stadium with Ashley ShahAhmadi reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, and ESPN+ which offer a free trial to new subscribers.
South Carolina 28, Old Dominion 10: It’ll be a big test for Sellers and while it’s expected he has a few rocky moments, it’s also expected he pulls out the win. In his game against Furman in 2023, he showed no signs of nerves even as a true freshman and completed a 50-yard touchdown pass. If South Carolina’s run game isn’t frazzled by Old Dominion’s defense, led by linebacker Jason Henderson, the Gamecocks can start the season with a win.
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
South Carolina:
Old Dominion:
No injuries
Forecast in Columbia for kickoff is 92 degrees.
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Kareena Kapoor is working with Raazi director Meghna Gulzar for her next film. The project,…
2024-11-09 15:00:03 WEST LAFAYETTE -- Daniel Jacobsen's second game in Purdue basketball's starting lineup lasted…
2024-11-09 14:50:03 Rashida Jones is remembering her late father, famed music producer Quincy Jones, in…
2024-11-09 14:40:03 A silent German expressionist film about vampires accompanied by Radiohead’s music — what…
Let's face it - life can be downright stressful! With everything moving at breakneck speed,…
Apple’s redesigned Mac Mini M4 has ditched the previous M2 machine’s SSD that was soldered…