The 3-2-1: Breaking Down South Carolina’s Win Over Virginia Tech
South Carolina’s season opener against Virginia Tech brought plenty of drama, standout plays, and lingering questions. Here’s a breakdown of the three key plays, two game balls, and one burning question from the Gamecocks’ victory.
Three Key Plays
1. Sellers’ Early Spark
On South Carolina’s opening drive, the Gamecocks moved smoothly into the red zone. Facing a third-and-five at the Hokies’ 15-yard line, quarterback LaNorris Sellers kept it himself on a draw play and powered up the middle for a touchdown. It stood as the game’s only score until the fourth quarter.
2. A Classic Beamer Ball Moment
In the fourth quarter, South Carolina forced a Hokies punt that rolled out at the Gamecocks’ 26. But an illegal formation flag gave Shane Beamer a choice — and he made Virginia Tech punt again. That decision paid off.
This time, Vicari Swain fielded the ball at the 20 and delivered a highlight-reel return. He dodged multiple tackles, spun free, and sprinted into the end zone for South Carolina’s first punt-return touchdown since Ace Sanders in the 2013 Outback Bowl.
The play electrified the stadium and perfectly embodied “Beamer Ball.”
3. Harbor Strikes Deep
Fans of EA Sports’ College Football video game know this play: Nyck Harbor on a deep post. On Sunday, it worked in real life. Harbor torched the Hokies’ secondary for a 64-yard touchdown — the longest of his career — putting the game out of reach for Virginia Tech.
Two Game Balls
Fred “JayR” Johnson
Johnson turned in a monster performance. He recorded a team-high 10 tackles, picked off a pass in the end zone, broke up another third-down throw, and shut down Virginia Tech’s rushing attack repeatedly.
Dylan Stewart
The defense carried the Gamecocks through the middle stretches, and Stewart was a huge reason why. He finished with seven tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a momentum-shifting sack. That sack — combined with an unnecessary roughness penalty against Virginia Tech on the same play — halted a drive where the Hokies looked poised to take control. Stewart disrupted plays all night long.
One Burning Question
Can the offensive line improve?
While the scoreboard worked out in South Carolina’s favor, the offensive line remains a concern. After that first-drive touchdown, the Gamecocks’ offense stalled until late in the game, largely because the line struggled to protect Sellers and create running lanes.
The stat sheet looks serviceable at first glance — 4.7 sack-adjusted yards per carry — but much of that came from a few explosive plays and Sellers’ scrambles. The unit also gave up four sacks and a safety. Even worse, South Carolina managed just 0.2 yards per carry on first downs in the first half.
As the competition heats up, this group will need to grow quickly if the Gamecocks want to keep momentum rolling.
