Gamecocks Spring Game: Doty and defense lead Garnet side past Black 10-7 (AUDIO)

**Gamecock fans got their first look at Air Noland, Friday (Ryan Bethea)**

Williams-Brice Stadium: Quarterback LaNorris Sellers and a number of presumptive starters exited the Gamecocks Spring Game early, clearing the way for some of the new faces, and one very familiar one, to take center stage in the Garnet side’s 10-7 victory, Friday.

After a sluggish 20 minutes to open the game, marked by consistent pressure on the quarterbacks, both offenses got cranked up midway through the second quarter.

Ohio State transfer Air Noland flashed his arm strength with a long completion, tossing a dart to Vandrevius Jacobs over the middle for a 21-yard gain. But two plays later, Noland (9-16, 67 yards) was picked off by Myles Norwood to set the Garnet team up in plus territory. Matthew Fuller’s 12-yard gain off right tackle set up the game’s first score, a 36-yard field goal from Mason Love.

Cutter Woods (6-13, 120 yards) stepped in to quarterback the Black offense on the ensuing drive and made an immediate impact. The freshman’s first attempt was a deep shot to Vandrevius Jacobs that went for a 51-yard gain. Jacobs (3 catches, 85 yards) would have scored had he not lost his balance making the over-the-shoulder catch. Woods followed it up by hitting Brian Rowe, Jr. (5 catches, 45 yards) on a comeback to the 1-yard line before scoring on a keeper to give his side a 7-3 lead.

Oscar Adaway III picked up a 4th and 1 at midfield to give veteran Luke Doty a chance to engineer a last-minute drive before halftime. Doty (10-12, 85 yards) found freshman wideout Malik Clark (2 catches, 21 yards) for a touchdown on the final play of the half to give Garnet a 10-7 lead.

The second half was ruled by the defenses, with Buddy Mack III sealing the victory with a fourth-quarter interception of Woods.

LaNorris Sellers played sparingly, completing 4 of 7 passes for 53 yards. His younger brother, Jayden Sellers, caught three passes from Doty for 18 yards. Unsurprisingly, Dylan Stewart showed exceptional get-off in his pass rushes and notched an early sack. Safety DQ Smith and linebacker Jaron Williams nearly combined on an early interception when Smith tipped it into the arms of a diving Williams, but the call was overturned.

In addition to his 36-yard field goal, Love knocked down a 41-yarder in an impromptu kicking competition called for by head coach Shane Beamer.

The running game for both sides was inconsistent and Beamer said they will head into the summer with five players (Adaway, Fuller, Rahsul Faison, Bradley Dunn and Jawarn Howell) vying for carries.

On the injury front, wide receiver Mazeo Bennett was held out for precautionary reasons after tweaking his leg running a fade route earlier this week. Offensive lineman Cason Henry and defensive back Jalon Kilgore are nursing a lower body injuries and “should be fine.”

Beamer was pleased that he saw a lot of young players flashing in their first action at Williams-Brice Stadium, but was disappointed with what he called “sloppy play,” referencing false starts, a bad snap, two illegal formations and muffed punts. He said he hopes they got it out of their system because the pressure will be ratcheted up when they take the field against Virginia Tech in their opener 133 days from now.