3. 📅 On This Date
Oct. 27, 2012 - On a day that saw one of the saddest injuries in Gamecock history, #17 ranked Carolina held off a frenzied comeback from Tennessee to earn a 38-35 win and improve their record to 7-2. USC started fast, with Connor Shaw hitting Bruce Ellington for a 33-yard touchdown on the opening drive, but the Vols countered with a 75-yard drive to tie the game on a Tyler Bray TD pass. After an exchange of punts, Shaw led the Gamecock offense 53 yards down the field, with the last half coming on a scoring pass to Rory Anderson. The defense forced a three and out, thanks to Victor Hampton stopping a Bray pass to RB Marlin Lane for a loss of one on third down. The Gamecock offense then moved 64 yards down the field as Marcus Lattimore ran twice for 17 yards, a Shaw to Justice Cunningham pass picked up 19 more and then Lattimore covered the last 28 on a rushing attempt with 8:22 left in the second quarter for a 21-7 lead. UT struck back on a 37-yard touchdown pass, again from Bray to Zach Rogers. Disaster struck the Gamecocks two plays later, as Lattimore was badly injured on a run on a play that would sadly effectively end both his college and NFL career. Devastated, USC soldiered on, punting on that drive but scoring on the next one as two Shaw to Ellington passes covered 32 yards and a 21 yarder to Cunningham set up a one-yard TD run by Shaw for a 28-14 halftime lead. Tennessee continued to fight back, as Bray hooked up with Vincent Dallas for a 61-yard touchdown on their first possession of the second half. USC again countered with a score, as Carolina marched 80 yards, starting with a 16-yard pass from Shaw to Ace Sanders and ending with a 24-yard TD pass with the same two players. The Vols would make it 35-28 on the first play of the fourth quarter on a trick play, with WR Alton Howard throwing a 13 yard TD pass to tight end Mychal Rivera. A 45-yard pass from Shaw to Cunningham got USC back in the red zone, but the Gamecocks had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Adam Yates and a 38-28 lead. Bray then found Rogers for yet another scoring pass, this one from 22 yards out, to get back within three. The Vols intercepted a Shaw pass at their own 18 and looked like they would at least tie the game when they made it to the Carolina 19, but defensive end Jadeveon Clowney burst around end and sacked Bray, forcing a fumble that teammate Shaq Wilson recovered. Tennesse would get the ball back one last time, but Hampton picked off Bray with 23 seconds remaining to clinch the win.
Oct. 27 Birthdays
• Jarrett Burns (Safety, 2008-2009) - Had five tackles in 2009 as redshirt frosh. Transferred to Chattanooga where he played WR (7 catches)
• Dave Cash (Offensive Tackle, 1971-1973) - 2-starter at right tackle despite 5-11 height
• Arturo Freeman (Free Safety, 1995-1999) - SEC All-Freshman in 1995, 2nd team All-SEC in 1996, first team in 1997
• Curtis Kilgore (Linebacker, 1984-1987) - Reserve LB had 42 tackles, 7 QB hurries for career
• Noah Whiteside (Wide Receiver, 2003-2006) - Started 9 times, caught 40 passes, 15.8 yard average, 4 TDs. Scored 1st TD of Spurrier era
John Parker, gamecockarchives.com |
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