Lightning Delay Halts South Carolina’s Rout of Towson in the Third Quarter
South Carolina was cruising against Towson on Saturday night, leading 24-3 early in the third quarter, when severe weather forced a stoppage in play at Williams-Brice Stadium.
A Dominant Start Interrupted
The Gamecocks controlled the game from the opening half, taking a 17-3 lead into halftime. That momentum carried into the third quarter, as LaNorris Sellers capped a 56-yard touchdown drive to extend the lead to 24-3. Almost immediately afterward, though, a torrential downpour with lightning rolled into the stadium, prompting officials to halt the action. Members of the media documented the sudden shift, with one reporter noting, “Getting tough to see out of the press box window.”
The Official Delay
Around 9:15 p.m. ET, South Carolina’s football program confirmed the stoppage: “We are currently under a weather delay due to lightning in the area. We will provide updates as soon as we have more information.” Under NCAA rules, play cannot resume until 30 minutes pass without any lightning or thunder — and that clock resets entirely with each new strike or clap of thunder, meaning delays can stretch on unpredictably.
Warning Signs Before Halftime
Local weather trackers had flagged the incoming storm even before the delay was officially called, with meteorologists noting an approaching system: “A lightning delay probably on the way,” and later, “Lightning is picking up with a thunderstorm approaching from the southwest.”
Fans Make the Best of It
Despite the disruption, South Carolina’s student section appeared to embrace the chaos, with the football program sharing footage under the caption, “Meanwhile, in the student section…”
A Potentially Long Night
For a stretch, it wasn’t clear how long the delay might last, given the amount of weather still moving through the area. One local outlet noted radar showing rain continuing past 11:00 p.m., warning fans “it might be a long night” with the score still sitting at USC 24, Towson 3, and 12:07 remaining in the third quarter.
Play Resumes
Ultimately, the delay lasted just under an hour. At 10:15 p.m. ET, South Carolina’s program announced the good news: “Good news Gamecock fans, we are going to resume! The weather has cleared, and both teams have returned to the field… The weather has cleared in the area. The game will resume shortly! LET’S GO 🤙”
With play set to continue, attention turned to how both South Carolina and Towson would respond after the extended weather interruption.
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