South Carolina rallies, beats Vanderbilt 13-10 in SEC opener

Will muschamp had no concerns about sending elliott fry out for the longest subject goal of his career. Even though this became the educate's first sport with south carolina, he had seen the kicker connect again and again in snatch situations.

Vanderbilt going for walks lower back khari blasingame (23) celebrates with tight give up sean dowling (89) after scoring a landing on a 1-yard run towards south carolina in the first half of an ncaa college soccer recreation thursday, sept. 1, 2016, in nashville, tenn. Mark humphrey ap image
By means of teresa m. Walker
Ap sports activities creator
Linkedin
Google+
Pinterest
Reddit
Print
Order reprint of this tale
Nashville, tenn.
Will muschamp had no issues about sending elliott fry out for the longest area goal of his profession. Even though this changed into the educate's first sport with south carolina, he had visible the kicker connect again and again in grasp conditions.

Fry kicked a career-long fifty five-yard field intention with 35 seconds left, and the south carolina gamecocks rallied from a 10-factor halftime deficit to conquer vanderbilt thirteen-10 thursday night time in muschamp's debut as head teach.

"i had total self belief," muschamp stated.

So did senior quarterback perry orth.

"i've been here the equal quantity of time as elliott," orth said. "i've seen him make those in exercise. He is made some grab kicks in games. I knew if we were given the ball close to the 35 and in, we might have a threat."

Muschamp started out orth at quarterback and additionally played freshman brandon mcilwain. But it become orth who went back into the game within the 0.33 quarter and threw for 152 yards rallying the gamecocks to their eighth directly victory over vanderbilt within the southeastern convention opener for both teams.

Vanderbilt now's 0-three in season openers beneath educate derek mason, though his commodores did manipulate to score an offensive landing within the first half of. However tommy openshaw overlooked a forty five-backyard field intention wide left with three:44 left, and vandy grew to become it over on downs with 14 seconds left.

"every choice we made can be wondered," mason stated. "the bottom line is we failed to win this sport. Now we ought to get lower back to next week and play mtsu."

Fry additionally kicked a 48-backyard discipline intention within the 0.33 region, and deebo samuel atoned for a fumbled punt inside the first quarter by way of scoring an eight-yard td on an end-round with 7:30 left. Fry had total confidence he may want to connect from fifty five after barely arising short from 62 in warmups.

"i knew i should hit it," said fry, whose preceding long turned into fifty two yards.

Takeaways

South carolina: the second half became a complete turnaround from the primary with the gamecocks nearly pinning themselves deep on the outlet kickoff earlier than officials dominated the returner had knelt down for the touchback. Mcilwain took over at the beginning of the second one region after orth controlled 23 yards of offense in the first.

Muschamp stated the plan coming in have been to get mcilwain into the sport early. But mcilwain lost a fumble, so the instruct went returned to orth. The senior became 6 of 8 for 117 yards inside the 2nd 1/2 because the gamecocks won 220 yards on offense.

Vanderbilt: the commodores were given their fingers on masses of passes defensively but couldn't select off even one no matter that being a place of cognizance this season. They pressured  fumbles but could not get off the sector in the 2d half.

Cooper's replacement: the gamecocks could have been thinking who could update pharoh cooper, now with the l.  A. Rams inside the nfl. Freshman bryan edwards did his quality to step up, pulling in capture after seize. His nice changed into a forty three-yarder, and he finished with eight receptions for one zero one yards in his first game. "he is that kind of skills, and he is going to be huge for us the relaxation of the season," orth said.

Qb issues

South carolina knew it had questions at quarterback with muschamp unable to pick out between his trio. Mason had stated again and again before the opener that kyle shurmur changed into his starter with wade freebeck the backup. However vandy introduced in freebeck the power after the commodores scored a td to move up 10-zero. Freebeck turned into in for two consecutive drives and controlled 1 yard over six performs. The transfer had lovers thinking what passed off and became paying homage to quarterback struggles in latest years.

"it turned into predetermined," mason said. "we had to get wade a series or two ... Kyle had to locate extra rhythm. He did not have rhythm. We needed to make a few performs. We wanted to discover momentum."

Up subsequent

South carolina: the gamecocks go to mississippi kingdom, a group they've beaten seven straight games, on sept. 10.

Vanderbilt: the commodores host middle tennessee seeking out a 2d immediately victory over a college 40 miles away. Mtsu gained three immediately before vanderbilt ended that skid a year in the past.