NORMAN, OK: Who needs offense when your defense can stake you to 21 quick points. South Carolina’s defense created three turnovers and scored two touchdowns on Oklahoma’s first nine plays, and then went on to make that lead stand up in a 35-9 victory over Oklahoma Saturday in Norman spoiling Homecoming for the Sooners.
In their first ever meeting with the Sooners, the Gamecocks unleashed a defense Bob Stoops would have loved. Everyone knew of Oklahoma’s offensive issues coming into the game, and USC defensive coordinator Clayton White had his guys ready.
The Gamecocks recorded nine sacks, their most since 1996, by nine different defenders. They came up with four turnovers including those early three they turned into touchdowns…a three-yard touchdown run by Rocket Sanders, a 36-yard scoop and score by Tonka Hemingway and a 65-yard pick six by Nick Emmanwori, his second of the season.
The USC offense didn’t do a whole lot. A 33-yard scoring pass from LaNorris Sellers to Josh Simon late in the first half was the Gamecocks’ biggest play with the football. They finished with only 254 total yards, their second lowest production of the season, but they did not have a turnover and kept their penalties to a minimum.
The Gamecocks will go into their second off week of the season with a 4-3 overall record and a 2-3 SEC mark.
Final Stats
Here’s my view from Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium
Gamecock Postgame
Shane Beamer
Nick Emmanwori & Tonka Hemingway
LaNoris Sellers & Josh Simon
Demetrius Knight
