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Quarterbacks Turn In Solid Day
GAMECOCKS SCRIMMAGE
COLUMBIA, S.C. (August
24, 2011) – The University of South Carolina football team started its
Wednesday practice at the Bluff Road “Proving Grounds” before moving
into Williams-Brice Stadium for an hour-long scrimmage.
The
quarterbacks had one of their more productive scrimmages in recent
memory, as the three signal-callers who saw action combined to complete
19-of-25 passes for 310 yards with two touchdowns. Fifth-year senior
quarterback Stephen Garcia hit on 9-of-13 attempts for 136 yards and a
score. Sophomore Connor Shaw threw an incompletion on his first
attempt, then hit on eight consecutive passes to finish the day 8-for-9
for 100 yards with a touchdown. Andrew Clifford connected on two of his
three pass attempts for 74 yards in limited action.
“The defense
took a lot of the D-linemen out, so it was a little easier to throw
today and get some balls off,” said head coach Steve Spurrier following
the scrimmage. “Overall, it was ok. The receivers caught everything.
Nobody got hurt, so that was good.”
Shaw got the team in the
endzone first when he connected with Lamar Scruggs on a 37-yard
completion. Shon Carson had the scrimmage’s only rushing touchdown when
he scampered in from three yards out to get the Gamecocks on the board
for the second time. His touchdown run was set up by a 63-yard pass
play from Clifford to D.L. Moore. Damiere Byrd continued his impressive
fall camp with another touchdown reception, this one a 38-yarder from
Garcia. Jay Wooten capped off the scoring with a 44-yard field goal.
“Connor’s
done pretty well,” said Spurrier of his sophomore quarterback’s
performances in the recent scrimmages. “He’s throwing it around,
zipping it around. He can make all the throws. Stephen did a lot better
today, although he had a couple errant mental errors that hopefully he
can learn from.”
Victor Hampton recorded the scrimmage’s only
turnover on the first drive of the day when he picked off a pass that
was underthrown by Garcia near the end zone.
In other news,
senior defensive back Akeem Auguste was in a white jersey for the first
time this fall. Defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Melvin Ingram, who
were both injured during Tuesday’s practice, did not participate on
Wednesday.
The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields Thursday afternoon at 4:15 p.m.
SCORING PLAYS:
Lamar Scruggs 37-yard pass from Connor Shaw (Jay Wooten kick)
Shon Carson 3-yard run (Adam Yates kick)
Damiere Byrd 38-yard pass from Stephen Garcia (Landon Ard kick)
Jay Wooten 44-yard field goal
PASSING: Stephen Garcia 9-13-1-136, 1 TD; Connor Shaw 8-9-0-100, 1 TD; Andrew Clifford 2-3-0-74. TOTALS: 19-25-1-310, 2 TD.
RUSHING:
Ace Sanders 2-29; Marcus Lattimore 2-16; Kenny Miles 2-7; Shon Carson
3-4, 1 TD; Brandon Wilds 1-3; Eric Baker 1-1; Connor Shaw 2-(-14);
Stephen Garcia 4-(-24). TOTALS: 17-22.
RECEIVING: D.L. Moore
2-67; Lamar Scruggs 2-61, 1 TD; Damiere Byrd 2-48, 1 TD; Justice
Cunningham 2-21; Ace Sanders 1-19; Alshon Jeffery 1-16; DeAngelo Smith
1-12; Nick Jones 1-11; Shamier Jeffery 1-11; Jason Barnes 1-11; Shon
Carson 1-9; Eric Baker 1-8; Bruce Ellington 1-8; Dalton Wilson 1-7;
Kenny Miles 1-1. TOTALS: 19-310, 2 TD.
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