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GAMECOCKS HOLD FIRST SCRIMMAGE SATURDAY
COLUMBIA,
S.C. – The University of South Carolina football squad held its
first official scrimmage of the fall on Saturday afternoon at
Williams-Brice Stadium.
“We had a typical scrimmage,” said head
coach Steve Spurrier following the two-hour practice session. “Nobody
got hurt seriously I don’t think. It was an interesting scrimmage. I
told our guys we looked like the seventh best offense in the league and
about the seventh best defense. We’ll look at it, grade our guys and
put them in first, second and third (string units) next week when we
start practice.”
The quarterbacks had a solid day, combining to
complete 28-of-45 passes for 347 yards with four touchdowns and no
interceptions. Stephen Garcia (9-of-15, 92 yards) was the starter, but
Connor Shaw (9-of-11, 142 yards, 2 TDs) was the most impressive. On his
first drive, he connected on a post pattern to Damiere Byrd, who
juggled it before putting it away for a 65-yard score. Byrd finished
the day with three catches for a game-high 84 yards.
“Connor
Shaw had an excellent scrimmage,” noted Coach Spurrier. “I think his
team went up and down the field and scored every time he was in. He
threw it where he was supposed to, got rid of it, did not take sacks
and played pretty well. I think Damiere Byrd caught a bunch of passes.
He caught a long one early in the scrimmage.”
Newcomer Bruce
Ellington was impressive in his first scrimmage on the gridiron. The
Gamecock basketball standout carried three straight times in the
“Wildcat” formation for 20 yards, before handing off to Eric Baker for
a six-yard touchdown run. Ellington also caught three passes for 37
yards, including a seven-yard TD pass from Shaw.
“Bruce had an
excellent scrimmage,” said the Head Ball Coach. “A lot of the running
backs - Eric Baker, Shon Carson and Brandon Wilds - did some things.”
Carson led the team with nine carries for 56 yards, while Wilds logged
seven carries for 36 yards. Baker added 14 yards and a touchdown on
five totes.
While it was a positive that the offense did not
have any turnovers on the afternoon, Coach Spurrier was disappointed
that the defense was unable to force any miscues. “Defensively we
didn’t have any turnovers,” noted Spurrier. “We can’t knock it loose or
get a pick. I hope we can get a pick or two here before we start the
season..”
The Gamecocks will hold their annual Colonial Life Fan
Appreciation Day on Sunday, August 14, at the Colonial Life Arena. The
football team will be joined by the soccer, volleyball and cross
country teams in an autograph session. The free event will be held from
12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. with the football squad expected to arrive
around 1 p.m. Parking is free in the Colonial Life Arena lots.
SCORING PLAYS:
Damiere Byrd 65-yard pass from Connor Shaw (Jay Wooten kick)
Eric Baker 6-yard run (Adam Yates kick)
Rory Anderson 20-yard pass from Dylan Thompson (Wooten kick)
Yates 32-yard field goal
Wooten 41-yard field goal
Bruce Ellington 7-yard pass from Shaw (Yates kick)
Brandon Wilds 11-yard pass from Andrew Clifford (Landon Ard kick)
PASSING:
Connor
Shaw 9-11-0-147, 2 TD; Stephen Garcia 9-15-0-92; Dylan Thompson
5-9-0-57, 1 TD; Andrew Clifford 4-7-0-50, 1 TD; Tanner McEvoy 1-3-0-1.
TOTALS: 28-45-0-347, 4 TD.
RUSHING: Shon Carson 9-56; Brandon
Wilds 7-36; Bruce Ellington 3-20; Eric Baker 5-14, 1 TD; Josh Hinch
1-5; Kenny Miles 1-(-5); Connor Shaw 1-(-5); Stephen Garcia 3-(-8);
Andrew Clifford 1-(-8). TOTALS: 31-105, 1 TD.
RECEIVING: Damiere
Byrd 3-84, 1 TD; Bruce Ellington 3-37, 1 TD; Eric Baker 3-22; Nick
Jones 2-33; Brandon Wilds 2-20, 1 TD; Drew Owens 2-20; Corey Simmons
2-9; Rory Anderson 1-20, 1 TD; Justice Cunningham 1-20; DeAngelo Smith
1-16; Shamier Jeffery 1-13; Payton Brady 1-13; Lamar Scruggs 1-13;
Marcus Lattimore 1-11; Jason Barnes 1-11; D.L. Moore 1-3; Kenny Miles
1-1; Blair Lowery 1-1. TOTALS: 28-347, 4 TD.
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