Comeback Falls Short At South Carolina

Comeback Falls Short At South Carolina

10/22/2005

Gamecocks Beat Commodores 35-28

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Gamecocks took the lead late in the fourth quarter then turned away a dramatic Commodore comeback in the final seconds of the game to win 35-28.

With nine seconds left in the game and facing a fourth-and-10 on the Gamecock 30-yard line, head Coach Bobby Johnson spent his final timeout. It probably came as no surprise to the 76,427 in attendance that Johnson called a passing play, particularly since quarterback Jay Cutler had thrown for a career-high 339 yards over the course of the game. However, given some of the fourth-quarter come-from-behind heroics Cutler and his Commodores have orchestrated this season, it likely surprised many that the pass to freshman wide receiver Bryant Anderson skidded across the end zone incomplete to end the threat, and effectively the game.

Cutler, a senior, was 27 of 49 in pass attempts, and had a career-high 339 yards in the air. His favorite target of the night, by far, was Earl Bennett. Bennett, a true freshman, caught 16 passes for 204 yards (both career highs) and his first career touchdown. Cutler’s second-favorite target, senior tight end Dustin Dunning, caught a quarter of what Bennett did for a gain of 46 yards. Cutler was sacked twice. Freshman kicker Bryant Handfeldt had a 35-yard field goal attempt blocked, and failed to get a punt off after bobbling a snap.

Defensively, senior linebacker Moses Osemwegie again led the Commodores with 14 tackles and a quarterback hurry. Senior nickelback Cheron Thompson intercepted a pass from Blake Mitchell, running it back 13 yards for a touchdown. Junior linebacker Kevin Joyce recorded an unassisted sack for the Dores, dropping Gamecock quarterback Blake Mitchell for a six-yard loss.

Gamecock wide receiver Syvelle Newton, who split time as quarterback, left the game with a torn Achilles tendon in the fourth quarter.

The Commodores (4-4, 2-3) have next week off, and return to play Nov. 5 when they travel to The Swamp in Gainesville to face the Florida Gators.