Oct. 28, 2017
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Once again, Vanderbilt’s annual matchup with South Carolina came down to the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Commodores came up short on the road.
Vanderbilt couldn’t convert on a late fourth-down conversion to extend a potential go-ahead drive, allowing the Gamecocks to seal a 34-27 victory at Williams Brice Stadium.
Here’s how it went down:
WHAT HAPPENED: Vanderbilt took its opening drive 75 yards in six plays for a touchdown to take an early 7-0 lead over South Carolina. But that momentum was short-lived as the Gamecocks bounced back to outscore the Dores, 24-6, over the remainder of the first half. Thus, South Carolina entered halftime holding a 24-13 lead. Vanderbilt managed to rally and make it a one-score game late in the fourth quarter, but a turnover on downs with less than two minutes to play cemented a South Carolina win.
TURNING POINT: Trailing by two scores in the fourth quarter, Vanderbilt scored a touchdown with 4:50 to play to cut South Carolina’s lead to 34-27. The Dores stuffed the Gamecocks on their next offensive possession to secure one final chance for a game-tying score. Vanderbilt crept into Carolina territory and faced a fourth-and-3 at the 40-yard line with less than 90 seconds to play. But Shurmur’s fourth-down pass to Caleb Scott fell short, and the Gamecocks ran out the clock from there.
HELMET STICKERS
QB Jake Bentley (South Carolina)
The Gamecocks’ sophomore quarterback made plays when it counted against Vanderbilt. Bentley finished 19 of 29 for just 174 yards, but he passed for one touchdown and ran for two more in South Carolina’s win.
WR Kalija Lipscomb (Vanderbilt)
Lipscomb showed his full range of abilities on Saturday. The second-year wideout led all pass-catchers with 128 reception yards on seven catches, including an acrobatic one-handed grab that set up a touchdown in the second quarter. Lipscomb’s lone touchdown came on a career-high 47-yard grab in the third quarter.
RB A.J. Turner (South Carolina)
The Gamecocks’ lead rusher barreled his way to 121 yards on 15 carries for a solid 8.1 yards-per-carry average. South Carolina’s running game had not found much success this season, but the Gamecocks managed to find life on Saturday.
GIVE ME THE NUMBERS
9
Vanderbilt penalties in the first half. The Dores had not committed more than six penalties in a game this season, but they surpassed that number in the first half alone on Saturday. Vanderbilt committed nine penalties for 90 yards through two quarters and finished with 10 penalties for 100 yards on the night. Amid those first-half miscues, South Carolina built a 24-13 lead at the break.
4
Touchdown passes by Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur. The junior matched his single-game career-high in that category against South Carolina, even completing a 47-yard scoring bomb to Lipscomb. Shurmur finished 27-of-49 for 333 yards, four touchdowns and one pick.
3
Consecutive games between South Carolina and Vanderbilt that have been decided by one score. During last season’s 13-10 Gamecock victory in Nashville, the Commodores held an early 10-0 lead before giving up the final 13 points to South Carolina. In 2015, Vanderbilt held a 10-6 lead midway through the third quarter before the Gamecocks grabbed the lead on a Pharoh Cooper touchdown catch and cemented a 19-10 win.
WORTH NOTING: The Commodores bested the Gamecocks in total offense (440 yards vs. 386) and yards per play (6.1 vs. 5.8) in the loss.
WHAT’S NEXT: Vanderbilt returns home to take on Western Kentucky on Nov. 4. Kickoff is 11 a.m. CT on ESPNU.
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.
