Oct. 21, 2006
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes
South Carolina at Vanderbilt
Oct. 21, 2006
Nashville, Tenn.
Attn: 37,280
General Notes
With the loss, Vanderbilt goes to 3-5 on the season, and 1-4 in SEC play.
The 31 points scored by South Carolina are the most allowed by the Vanderbilt defense this season. Previously, the most points allowed by the Commodores were 27 by Michigan in the season opener.
Commodore defensive end Curtis Gatewood recorded an interception, one sack and five solo tackles.
Commodore Starters
Mac Pyle (R-Sr.) earned his first start in more than a year at left guard, replacing Josh Eames, who was injured at Georgia. Pyle now has 28 career starts, sharing the team high among active players with Chris Booker (R-Sr., DE). Brian Stamper (Sr., OT), out for the season with a back injury, has a team-high 36 career stats. The Commodores started two tight ends – Steven Bright (R-Sr.) and Brad Allen (R-So.).
First Half Notes
The Commodore defense opened with a three-yard tackle for loss by Reshard Langford (R-Fr., safety)… The Commodores took their second possession 66 yards in 12 plays deep into USC territory before Bryant Hahnfeldt (So.) converted a 25-yard field goal… Vanderbilt’s Steven Bright (R-Sr., TE) was lost during the drive to a lower leg injury… A Commodore interception lead to South Carolina’s first touchdown, a two-yard pass to Sidney Rice, giving the Gamecocks a 10-3 margin… The first completion by Chris Nickson (R-So.) – a 44-yard pass to George Smith (R-So., WR) – gave Vanderbilt an excellent scoring opportunity late in the second quarter, but the Commodores eventually missed a 43-yard field goal attempt… With :39 left before halftime, Curtis Gatewood (R-Jr., DE) forced a fumble by USC QB Syvelle Newton after a sack… The fumble was recovered by Marcus Buggs (R-Jr., LB) at the USC 20-yard line. On the last play of the half, Nickson ran 13 yards for the Commodore touchdown, cutting the USC deficit to seven, 17-10, at the half. It was Nickson’s fourth rushing TD, most on the team.
Second Half Notes
With 13:40 left in the third quarter, Gatewood made another big defensive play, intercepting a Newton pass to give Vanderbilt possession at the South Carolina 46-yard line. It was the Commodores’ ninth interception of the year, one more than the 2005 total. The possession led to a 27-yard Hahnfeldt field goal, narrowing the margin to 17-13 with 8:33 left… Down 31-13 in the fourth quarter, Theo Horrocks (Jr., DT) forced a fumble recovered by D.J. Moore (Fr., CB). The Commodore possession ended on a failed fourth down attempt at the South Carolina 23-yard line. Reserve quarterback Richard Kovalcheck entered the game on Vanderbilt’s final drive of the game, completing seven of 10 pass attempts for 44 yards.
