COLUMBIA — South Carolina was part of a huge achievement Saturday: For the first time 2010, an SEC team lost to an FCS foe.
The Gamecocks came out flat and let Citadel get out to an early lead, and that was all the opening the Bulldogs would need to pull off the 23-22 win.
South Carolina has had issues all year stopping the run and that spelled disaster with the Citadel offense coming to town averaging nearly 350 per game on the ground. The Gamecocks gave up nearly 200 rushing yards in the first quarter, falling behind 14-3.
From that point, all the Bulldogs needed to do was follow their game plan: run the clock and keep the Gamecocks out of the end zone. Carolina had three quality drives in the first half, but couldn’t manage more than field goals.
The Gamecocks could never get anything going on the ground and would finish the day with only 72 yards on 25 carries. Perry Orth had a decent day through the air and would finish 28 of 43 with 367 yards and one touchdown, but it simply wasn’t enough.
Bulldog running back Tyler Renew would have a career game. Renew, who sold peanuts in Williams Brice Stadium growing up, would gouge the Gamecock defense for 174 yards after averaging only 68 per game coming into Saturday.
While the announced attendance for Saturday’s game was over 77,000, it was clear the Gamecock fans have followed Steve Spurrier and the team, giving up on this season. Even the North End Zone stands, reserved for students were far from being filled.