Turnovers Doom Kentucky as South Carolina Surges Before Halftime
In a matchup both teams badly needed, Kentucky struck first but quickly unraveled under the pressure of costly turnovers at Williams-Brice Stadium.
The Wildcats opened strong after winning the toss and choosing to receive. Seth McGowan carried the drive, racking up 42 yards and capping it with a 20-yard touchdown run — his fourth straight game finding the end zone, making him the first Kentucky player to hit that mark since Moe Williams.
South Carolina wasted no time answering. LaNorris Sellers marched the Gamecocks downfield to tie the game at 7-7. Kentucky responded with a 76-yard drive, but had to settle for a field goal after stalling at the 10-yard line, taking a slim 10-7 lead into the second quarter.
That’s when everything fell apart.
A Nightmare Second Quarter for Cutter Boley
Kentucky’s defense forced a punt, but the momentum flipped instantly. On 3rd-and-long, Dylan Stewart drilled quarterback Cutter Boley, forcing a fumble that Jatius Geer scooped and returned for a touchdown. Just two plays later, Gerald Kilgore picked off Boley and ran it back for another score. In less than a minute, South Carolina jumped to a 21-10 lead.
“There’s no way around it — you just can’t hand over 14 points on the road in the SEC,” one fan posted on X.
Boley nearly lost another fumble on the next series, salvaging it only to see the offense sputter again. A failed 4th-down call gave South Carolina more fuel, though Kentucky’s defense briefly steadied things with a key sack.
But Boley’s struggles continued. Pressured on 3rd-and-13, he heaved a pass that was intercepted near midfield — effectively working like a punt. South Carolina, capitalizing on the mistakes, punched in another score with Rahsul Faison’s second touchdown to make it 28-10.
Frustration boiled over, as Kentucky’s Kahlil Saunders drew a personal foul after the play. “The Cats are resorting to fighting after the whistle, not between snaps,” a commentator noted.
Kentucky’s Late Push Falls Flat
Mark Stoops tried to steady things by leaning on the run, but Shane Beamer’s timeouts gave South Carolina extra possessions. Boley managed a few completions, including a clutch throw to Maclin across midfield, but sacks and an intentional grounding call ended the drive in chaos.
With one second left in the half, Boley launched a desperation throw that led to a wild pitch sequence and a crushing hit that forced another fumble. Tensions flared as both teams jawed at midfield, with South Carolina feeding off its home crowd’s energy.
The Gamecocks head into halftime firmly in control — and with the ball to start the third quarter.
Halftime Leaders
Kentucky
- Cutter Boley: 7/15, 97 yards, 2 INT, 1 fumble
- Seth McGowan: 12 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD
- Willie Rodriguez: 1 catch, 53 yards
South Carolina
- LaNorris Sellers: 7/9, 60 yards; 7 carries, 42 yards
- Rahsul Faison: 6 carries, 24 yards, 2 TDs
- Vandrevius Jacobs: 3 catches, 37 yards
