Connor Shaw and the Gamecock offense had their way against Missouri's defense. (Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina continues to have a leg up on the Southeastern Conference’s East Division.
The seventh-ranked Gamecocks beat Missouri 31-10 on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium, thanks to a fast start provided by special teams and defense. South Carolina (4-0, 2-0) has now won both of its games against divisional opponents, including its season opener at Vanderbilt.
South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw completed 20 of 21 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. He completed his final 20 passes, tied for second-most in SEC history and six shy of the NCAA record.
Missouri (2-2, 0-2) will try to win its first SEC game, in its inaugural season in the league, in two weeks at home against Vanderbilt. The Tigers travel to Central Florida next week.
Shaw said he was aware that some national college football pundits had put South Carolina on upset alert entering its matchup with Missouri.
“I think our team realized that, and that’s something we talked about before the game,” Shaw said. “We kind of felt like it was disrespectful to us. We wanted to prove what the SEC is all about.”
Said coach Steve Spurrier: “It was a game where I think it was evident that we were a little stronger than Missouri. Our defensive guys were really fast out there today.”
South Carolina outgained Missouri 396-255. The Gamecocks led 21-3 at halftime after outgaining the Tigers 231-131. South Carolina’s three first-half touchdown drives required two plays, four yards and 38 seconds; two plays, 37 yards and 32 seconds; and four plays, 50 yards and 56 seconds.
South Carolina’s longest drive actually didn’t result in a touchdown. The Gamecocks drove from their 20-yard line to the Missouri 1 but couldn’t punch the ball in on two runs from there, and they turned it over on downs.
South Carolina didn’t need to move nearly as far on its next drive. Ace Sanders returned a punt 49 yards to Missouri’s 4, and the Gamecocks needed just two plays to go up 7-0 with 11:08 left in the first half. Tailback Marcus Lattimore did the honors, with a 2-yard score that gave him 32 career rushing touchdowns — a school record.
Missouri countered with just two plays before a fumble, forced by linebacker Reginald Bowens, gave South Carolina possession at Missouri’s 37. Spurrier took a deep shot on the next play and caught the Tigers on their heels, as receiver Nick Jones hauled in a 36-yard pass. Lattimore ran for a touchdown on the play after that, and the Gamecocks led 14-0 with 10:14 left.
Special teams contributed again later in the half, as Bruce Ellington returned a Missouri kickoff from a couple yards deep in the end zone and brought it to midfield. Four plays later, Shaw hit receiver Ace Sanders for a 23-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds left, after Sanders beat cornerback E.J. Gaines’ press coverage.
“That was a pretty dominating performance, so we will learn from it and get better,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said.
Said Missouri right tackle Jack Meiners: “The difference in South Carolina’s defensive front apart from the rest of the SEC is their depth. Their first-string guys are world-class defenders.”
After throwing an incomplete pass on his first attempt, Shaw closed the half by completing 14 straight passes. He finished the half with 170 passing yards and showed no ill effects of the crack in his right (throwing) shoulder blade. In last week’s win over Alabama-Birmingham, he was hit and landed on the shoulder late in the first half and did not return. Spurrier said Tuesday that Shaw would start against Missouri.
“He got off to a slow start,” Spurrier joked of Shaw’s completions streak Saturday. “So anyway, he was sensational.”
NOTES: Lattimore surpassed the USC career rushing touchdowns record shared by Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers (1977-80) and Harold Green (1986-89). Saturday was just Lattimore’s 24th game. … Ellington’s kickoff return was South Carolina’s first kickoff return of the season. In the first three games, all nine of South Carolina’s opponents’ kickoffs went for touchbacks. … Next Saturday at Kentucky, South Carolina will try to win its ninth straight game. The school’s longest winning streak is nine games to start the 1984 season. … South Carolina has won 10 straight games against SEC East opponents, dating to a loss at Kentucky in 2010.
