Kentucky defeats South Carolina 16-10 in Williams-Brice Stadium
The State’s Ben Portnoy, Augusta Stone and Michael Lananna are inside Williams-Brice Stadium for Saturday’s South Carolina football game against Kentucky. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 (starting on the ESPN app).
Parker White field goal brings Gamecocks within six points late
South Carolina cut Kentucky’s lead to 16-10 off a 54-yard Parker White field goal with less than 3 minutes left in the game. The field goal was set up by a 30-yard Jalen Brooks reception, the longest play of the game for USC’s offense.
Kentucky extends lead after USC offense continues to stall
The Wildcats made another charge for a field goal, extending their lead to 16-7 with 4:26 left in the game. Before its most recent field goal drive, Kentucky had fumbled the ball twice, allowing South Carolina’s offense to set up in Wildcats’ territory. Both times South Carolina failed to turn the favorable field position into points.
Kentucky makes another push downfield, settles for field goal
Following their first touchdown of the game, the Gamecocks weren’t able to keep Kentucky from driving all the way to the USC 3-yard line. South Carolina was able to hold the Wildcats on third-and-goal from the 3-yard line, forcing a 21-yard field goal attempt. Kentucky extended its lead 13-7 with 3:43 to go in the third quarter.
South Carolina gets on the board after halftime
The Gamecocks pieced together their best drive of the game right out of the locker room. South Carolina’s 10-play, 75-yard series was its first time making it past Kentucky’s 40-yard line and featured USC’s longest play of the game, a 25-yard reception from Luke Doty to Nick Muse. South Carolina’s touchdown cut Kentucky’s lead to 10-7 with 10:52 to go in the third quarter.
Wildcats take 10-0 lead to halftime
Kentucky scored a touchdown on its opening drive and kicked a field goal on its last drive of the first half, accumulating a 10-0 lead over South Carolina at the contest’s midpoint.
The Gamecocks struggled offensively throughout the first and second quarters, finishing the half with 80 total yards and just four first downs. Kentucky’s early success running the football slowed throughout the half, but the Wildcats still went into halftime with 109 yards on the ground. By the half, running back Chris Rodriguez totaled 64 yards on 11 carries.
Rodriguez’s first-half production alone is just 16 yards less than the entire South Carolina offense.
Kentucky scores first off consistent runs
Kentucky running back Chris Rodriguez is getting off to a solid start early in Columbia. Rodriguez rushed for 35 yards on four carries in the Wildcats’ first drive, which resulted in a touchdown.
Kentucky selected eight run plays in its 12-play opening drive, with carries accounting for 65 yards of the 75-yard drive. The Wildcats also converted all three of their attempts on third down.
Kevin Harris gets starting nod at RB, group effort at LB
Kevin Harris will be the Gamecocks’ starting running back for the Kentucky game, Shane Beamer confirmed to Todd Ellis before kickoff. Harris, who was the SEC’s leading rusher in 2020, has put up 64 yards on 23 carries this season.
Damani Staley and Brad Johnson will both see an increased workload at linebacker, Beamer said. Veteran Sherrod Greene fell injured early in last week’s game at Georgia and will be out for an extended period of time after having surgery on his leg. Johnson played in a limited capacity last weekend due to illness, per Beamer.
Gamecock uniform report
South Carolina will wear white helmets, garnet jerseys and white pants, according to the school’s official Twitter page.
What channel is the South Carolina game on?
Who: Kentucky Wildcats (3-0, 1-0 SEC) at South Carolina (2-1, 0-1)
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium (77,559) in Columbia, S.C.
TV: ESPN2 (starting on the ESPN app)
On-air announce crew: Brian Custer, play-by-play; Kelly Stouffer, analyst; Lauren Sisler, sideline.
Radio: 107.5 FM in the Columbia area (Todd Ellis, play-by-play; Tommy Suggs, analyst; Jamar Nesbit, sideline) … See all the radio affiliates around South Carolina here.
Satellite radio: Sirius 135/XM 190
