๐๐น๐ฎ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป โ ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐ฒ?
The nearly four-hour rain delay clearly threw off the rhythm of the night, but South Carolinaโs issues went far beyond a sluggish start. The Gamecocks never truly adjusted, never looked locked in, and most troubling of all, never asserted themselves at the line of scrimmage against an FCS opponent.
โIf they had flipped the switch after the first quarter or so, weโd be understanding,โ the report noted. โMost of us had lost focus after that delay. But South Carolina never flipped that switch, never got to playing focused, disciplined football.โ
That begs the uncomfortable question: was it really just the weather, or is South Carolinaโs offense still miles away from being SEC-ready?
In this weekโs 3-2-1 breakdown, we look at three defining plays, two game balls, and one lingering question from South Carolinaโs 38-10 win over S.C. State.
Three Key Plays
1. Vicari Swainโs first punt return
Nearly 10 minutes into the second quarter, South Carolinaโs offense had managed just 51 total yards, four first downs, and still no points. Thatโs when special teams stepped in. Swain fielded a punt, spun away from the first defender, slipped through another tackle, and picked up blockers on his way to his second punt-return touchdown of the season.
2. Swain strikes again
On the very next punt, the Gamecocks got a hand on the kick, and Swain scooped up the bouncing ball. Just like before, he shrugged off a tackle attempt, found a convoy of blockers, and raced in for another touchdown. That score gave him three touchdowns on only five punt returns this season.
3. Vandrevius Jacobsโ 35-yard touchdown
While the offense looked sluggish most of the night, it finally delivered a spark late in the third quarter. Receiver Vandrevius Jacobs slipped behind the defense, and quarterback LaNorris Sellers hit him perfectly in stride for a 35-yard touchdown. It was one of the few moments where South Carolinaโs athleticism truly showed, and perhaps a glimpse of what the unit can become in the coming weeks.
Two Game Balls
Vicari Swain
Once again, Swain bailed out an offense that couldnโt find its rhythm. He returned a punt 65 yards for a score, then struck again just four plays later with another return touchdown. In only six quarters this season, Swain has tied the programโs single-season punt-return record of three, first set by Dickie Harris in 1971. The career record sits at four, held by Ace Sanders โ a mark Swain could soon challenge. As if that wasnโt enough, he also forced a fumble to round out his night.
Dylan Stewart
Stewart looked every bit the difference-maker South Carolina needs up front. He consistently beat S.C. Stateโs offensive line, recording two tackles for loss, a sack, and a quarterback hurry. His impact was so dominant that the coaching staff rested him for much of the second half.
Bonus: The grounds crew
After hours of heavy rain and a lengthy delay, Williams-Brice Stadiumโs turf was still in great condition. Players had no footing issues, and the freshly painted end zones looked sharp all night. The play may have been sloppy, but the field was pristine.
One Burning Question
Blame it on the rain?
A rain delay that stretched nearly four hours clearly disrupted the flow of the game. South Carolina came out flat and never seemed to lock back in. โIf they had flipped the switch after the first quarter or so, weโd be understanding,โ the report noted. โMost of us had lost focus after that delay. But South Carolina never flipped that switch, never got to playing focused, disciplined football, and, perhaps most troubling of all, never took control of the offensive line of scrimmage.โ
So the question remains: was the weather really the culprit, or did the Gamecocks expose deeper issues that will linger into SEC play?
