Gamecock comeback spoils Holtz's return
C.J. Driggers
It was a dream scenario for Louisiana Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz. His Bulldogs held a 13-0 lead in the fourth quarter, and had the Gamecocks on the ropes.
"It was a great opportunity for us as a football team to play and see where we are," Holtz said after the game.
South Carolina's offense, dormant for the last seven quarters, came alive late in Williams-Brice. The Gamecocks stormed back to take a 14-13 lead with 4:52 remaining.
"Nobody flinched, nobody panicked. They weren't throwing helmets, they just kind of kept pumping each other up," Holtz said of his team late in this game.
That positive energy paid off for the Bulldogs. Louisiana Tech was able to put together a 10 play, 84 yard drive that ended with a field goal to give themselves a 16-14 lead with 55 seconds remaining.
"We knew it was going to be a close game, a fourth quarter game," Holtz remarked.
His team was right where it wanted to be. A lead with under a minute left, against an offense that was stymied for much of the afternoon. It was up to the Bulldogs defense to get one more stop.
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"With the way our defense had played, I was very comfortable running the ball and forcing them to use their timeouts, and go 80 yards to beat us," Holtz said in response to the late game strategy. "And you know what? They did. They did with the scramble and the jump ball.
"We gave up a couple big plays. I think what we found out today is that when we do our job and do what we're supposed to do, we can be really good. There are no moral victories in close. We have to continue to improve."
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Louisiana Tech actually had a spy on Jake Bentley on the third and long situation. As Bentley stepped up in the pocket, the spy linebacker got caught on the inside, allowing the 24 yard scramble. A jump ball to Bryan Edwards set up Parker White's game-winning field goal. The return to Columbia was quickly spoiled for Holtz.
"I think Coach Muschamp will do a good job here. They have a solid football team. He (Muschamp) will build this program in his likeness and in his image."
Holtz complimented the facilities that have continued to improve since his final season in 2004, as well as the people who make up the football program.
"You know the facilities here are great, but it's the people. The people here are what make this such a special place."
Louisiana Tech falls to 2-2 on the season and return home to take on South Alabama next Saturday at 7:00 pm. South Carolina moves to 3-1 and heads to College Station to face Texas A&M at 7:30 on Saturday.
