COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina returns home Saturday night to face Towson in the first ever meeting between the two schools. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Head coach Shane Beamer recently passed College Football Hall of Famer Lou Holtz for the seventh-most wins in program history with his 34th victory at South Carolina last Saturday, a 57-0 win over Kent State in the season opener.
In five previous seasons as head coach, Beamer is 15-4 in night games at Williams-Brice Stadium.
QUICKLY
The 133rd season of South Carolina football is officially underway as the Gamecocks opened the season with a resounding 57-0 shutout of Kent State last Saturday at Willimas-Brice Stadium.
The 57 points scored were the most in a season opener in program history. The 57-point margin of victory was also the most in a season opener in program history, surpassing a 53-0 win over Erskine on Sept. 19, 1938.
Beamer, who is in his sixth season as head coach, improved to 6-0 all-time in home openers at Carolina with the win over the Golden Flashes.
YOU GET A TOUCHDOWN! AND YOU GET A TOUCHDOWN! AND YOU GET A TOUCHDOWN!
After punting on the opening drive, South Carolina scored eight-straight touchdowns in its win over the Golden Flashes last Saturday. Six different players scored touchdowns for the Gamecocks marking the 15th different time that’s happened since 1995 and the fourth time under Beamer.
Sophomore wide receiver Donovan Murph and sophomore transfer running back Jabree Coleman each recorded their first career games with multiple TDs. Murph had four catches for a team-high 92 yards (23.0 avg), hauling in TD receptions of 29 and 37 yards.
Coleman had four carries for 77 yards (19.3 avg) with TD runs of 60 and five yards. Senior running back Isaiah Augustave, junior wide receiver Mazeo Bennett Jr., junior running back Matthew Fuller and sophomore tight end Mike Tyler each added TDs as well.
Augustave and Tyler’s scores were each the first of their careers. Senior quarterback LaNorris Sellers had three TD passes and sophomore quarterback Cutter Woods added the first career passing TD of his career as well when he connected with Tyler from seven yards out with 6:24 remaining in the third quarter.
Sellers’ three TDs moved him into the top-10 all-time at South Carolina with 36 career TD tosses.
WE’VE GOT OURSELVES AN OFFENSE
Under first-year offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, the Gamecock offense racked up 645 yards of total offense (367 passing, 278 rushing) against Kent State, the fifth-most total yards in program history and the most in the Beamer era dating back to 2021. Carolina also had 35 first downs, which tied a program record (previously happened vs. Tennessee on 11/19/22).
It marked the 12th time under Beamer with 500 yards of total offense and the 12th time with over 200 rushing yards.
DONUTS FOR DINNER
The South Carolina defense pitched a shutout against the Golden Flashes for the second time in the Beamer/Clayton White era (previously happened vs. EIU on 9/4/21). The Gamecocks allowed just 179 yards of total offense, forced eight punts and held the Golden Flashes to 5-of-14 on third down.
EARN YOUR STRIPES
The Gamecocks have started 12 true freshmen in the season opener since 2009. Darius Gray earned the start at left tackle against Kent State in the season opener on Sept. 5 helping Carolina rack up 645 yards of total offense, including 278 rushing yards on 39 carries (7.1 avg).
Gray was a part of an offensive line that allowed just one sack. He was the second highest graded (85.3) freshmen offensive lineman in the country via PFF in week one trailing only Georgia’s Ekene Ogboko (86.4).
SALUTE THE TROOPS
Saturday will be South Carolina’s annual Salute The Troops game. Fans are encouraged to stay in their seats at halftime for the special Salute the Troops show, where all active-duty soldiers, veterans and those who made the ultimate sacrifice will be honored.
Special military displays will be in Gamecock Village as well and fans encouraged to visit pregame.
–story and photo courtesy of South Carolina Athletics