South Carolina 70, Coastal Carolina 10
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Eight players scored touchdowns as the No. 11 South Carolina Gamecocks routed Football Championship Subdivision member Coastal Carolina 70-10 on Saturday afternoon at Williams-Brice Stadium.
South Carolina (9-2) scored on its first six possessions in its first meeting with the smaller in-state foe.
The all Gamecocks jumped to a 42-7 lead in the first half on touchdowns by sophomore wide receiver Shaq Roland, freshman running back Jamari Smith, senior quarterback Connor Shaw, junior receiver Nick Jones, freshman receiver Pharoh Cooper and sophomore running back Brandon Wilds.
Junior quarterback Dylan Thompson, Cooper and sophomore running back Shon Carson added second-half touchdowns for the Gamecocks.
It was an opportunity for South Carolina to get everyone playing time a week before playing rival Clemson. Starting quarterback Shaw played less than a quarter, and starting running back Mike Davis, All-SEC defensive candidate Kelcy Quarles and All-American defensive end Jadeveon Clowney never saw the field. Davis and Clowney are battling nagging injuries and should be available next week.
Coastal Carolina (10-2) had scored in every quarter of the season coming into the contest, but the Chanticleers were shut out 28-0 in the first quarter.
Shaw connected with Roland on the first drive for a 35-yard scoring pass. Seldom-used Smith, who had four carries for five yards on the season, scored his first career touchdown on the next series on a 3-yard run.
Shaw scored on a quarterback sneak on the next series, and Thompson connected with Jones on a 34-yard scoring strike after the Gamecocks defense stopped Coastal Carolina on a fourth-and-1.
The Chanticleers finally got on the board with a 1-yard scoring pass from sophomore quarterback Alex Ross to senior running back Lorenzo Taliaferro.
The news wasn't all bad for Coastal Carolina. Earlier in the day, Liberty knocked off Charleston Southern 56-14 to give the Chanticleers the Big South's automatic berth into the NCAA FCS playoffs.
NOTES: South Carolina and No. 7 Clemson will meet next week with the highest combined ranking they have had in the series. ... The 70 points by South Carolina is the most they have scored under coach Steve Spurrier in his nine seasons. The previous high was 69 against Troy in 2010. ... South Carolina extended the nation's longest home winning streak to 17 games. The Gamecocks' last loss came to Auburn in 2011. They are 33-3 in their past 36 home games.
