Gamecocks hold off Wildcats

Published on 10/08/06

LEXINGTON, KY. — South Carolina appeared headed for a major meltdown against Kentucky, but the Gamecocks regrouped just in time.

After watching a 17-0 lead dwindle to 17-10, South Carolina scored on a 22-yard pass from wide receiver Kenny McKinley to quarterback Syvelle Newton with 4:42 to play that enabled the Gamecocks to survive a late Kentucky score and beat the Wildcats 24-17 Saturday night at Commonwealth Stadium.

Despite the victory, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier went on a tirade after the game, upset by several lapses in the secondary that almost allowed the Wildcats to come back.

"Obviously, we don't know how to play with a lead," Spurrier said. "It was pitiful. It was sad watching our secondary play and watching our pass rush at the end of the game. I told the defensive guys and told the team we'll put three wide receivers back there and let them play three deep when we get the lead from now on if we're that bad."

The Gamecocks (4-2 overall, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) led 24-10 after McKinley took the ball on a reverse and threw back to Newton in the end zone.

"We practice that play, and unfortunately in practice, I've dropped it when I was wide open," said Newton. "Kenny put it up and I got a chance to make a play. At first I thought he overthrew it, but I jumped up and fortunately

Gamecocks hold off Wildcats

pass to set up the Gamecocks on the 24-yard line.

Four plays later, Boyd scored on a 5-yard run to put the Gamecocks ahead 17-0.

South Carolina seemed about to run away with it, when it appeared the Wildcats were going to go three and out on their next possession.

But with Kentucky facing fourth and one from its own 29, Wildcats coach Rich Brooks made a call that changed the game.

Tim Masthay ran right up the middle out of punt formation for a 17-yard gain and a first down.

That kept alive a drive that ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by Woodson, and the Gamecocks began to unravel.

South Carolina was three and out on its next possession and Kentucky drove for a field goal that cut the lead to 17-10 with 1:54 to play in the third quarter.

The Gamecocks dominated in the first half, but didn't have a lot of points to show for it.

South Carolina kept the football for 16:59 to Kentucky's 13:01 in the first half managed 14 first downs to the Wildcats' six and 248 yards in total offense to Kentucky's 88 but led only 10-0.

Newton scored on a 7-yard run with 12:26 to play in the second quarter, to finish off a 10-play, 87-yard drive, and Ryan Succop kicked a 42-yard field goal with 2:01 to play in the second quarter to cap a 10-play 72-yard drive.

South Carolina began the game with a 16-play drive that took 7:38 off the clock but resulted in no points.

On third and goal from the Kentucky 11, a Newton pass intended for McKinley was intercepted at the 1-yard line.

Kentucky had an 11-play drive and a nine-play drive in the first half and had nothing to show for it.

Reach Charles Bennett at

cbennett@postandcourier.com.

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