Blame it on the Swain: Gamecocks get a pair of punt return TDs in 38-10 win over SC State (AUDIO)

WILLIAMS-BRICE STADIUM: Everything started a little behind schedule in Columbia, Saturday. A thunderstorm hovered over the midlands pushing the kickoff back more than two hours, traffic was in gridlock outside the stadium throughout the game and the Gamecocks’ offense took their sweet time showing signs of life, netting -2 yards on the first three drives. But Vicari Swain woke the team from its slumber with a pair of punt return scores to lead the Gamecocks to a 38-10 win over SC State in the home opener.

SC State handled the late kickoff better than USC as the Bulldogs dominated the early action. SC State possessed the ball for 11:18 of the first quarter and held the Gamecocks to 0 of 6 on third down in the first half.

South Carolina (2-0) didn’t get on the board until Swain electrified the crowd on a 65-yard punt return touchdown with 5:01 left in the second quarter. After the Gamecocks’ defense forced a fourth straight 3-and-out on the next possession, Maurice Brown II broke through the line and got his hand on a punt, resulting in a short, wobbly kick. With the Bulldogs’ cover team moving in to down it, Swain slyly swooped in among them and gathered the ball in his arms. With his pursuers caught flat-footed, Swain outraced SC State to the wide side of the field, resulting in his second punt return touchdown of the game and third in the first two weeks. The dynamic sophomore has already tied the school record for punt return scores in a season with ten games left on the schedule.

USC’s offense produced its first touchdown of the game when Oscar Adaway III capped off the opening drive of the third quarter with a 5-yard run. The defense padded the lead on Jaron Willis’ 46-yard scoop and score.

LaNorris Sellers (11-19, 128 yards) threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to Vandrevius Jacobs to cap USC’s scoring. Reserves Luke Doty and Air Noland both took snaps from behind center in the fourth quarter, which didn’t start until shortly before midnight. It’s possible the late start disrupted the offense’s rhythm, but head coach Shane Beamer made it clear that the first two weeks haven’t been up to his standards. USC produced just 253 yards on 4.5 yards/play against the Bulldogs.

The defense and special teams, on the other hand, looked to be in mid-season form. Ryan Stubblefield’s 9-yard scoring pass in the fourth quarter is only the touchdown surrendered by USC’s defense through the first two games and William Joyce knocked down a 49-yard field goal just before halftime.

The Gamecocks have won twice, but they’ll likely need a better performance to vanquish Vanderbilt in the SEC opener next week. Kickoff between USC and the Commodores from Williams-Brice Stadium is scheduled to air on the SEC Network at 7:45 p.m., Saturday.

Final Stats

My View from Williams-Brice Stadium

South Carolina Postgame

Shane Beamer

LaNorris Sellers & Vandrevius Jacobs

Vacari Swain & Jaron Willis