GA Mangus

USC defeats NC State 7-3

September 3, 2009 By Phil Kornblut

USC scored a first quarterback touchdown and the Gamecock defense made that stand up on a night yards were hard to come by in a 7-3 win over NC State at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh. Brian Maddox scored on a one yard run with 9:10 to play in the first quarter capping a brief 14 yard drive set up by a fumble recovery by Darian Stewart. That would be all the scoring for the Gamecocks who had a touchdown pass called back for offensive pass interference, blew a field goal attempt with a bad snap and missed a 27 yard field goal. But the defense was up to the task limiting State to just 133 total yards. In the two game series with the Wolfpack, the Gamecocks allowed just three points in winning both games. The Gamecocks now lead the all time series 27-26-4.

Steve Spurrier

Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier says all the credit for the win goes to the defense.

Steve Spurrier (7:04)

Gamecock quarterback Stephen Garcia was 13-22 for 148 yards and one interception. He was sacked three times, but he did lead the team on a critical time eating drive at the end of the game to run out the clock.

Stephen Garcia (4:02)

The Gamecocks finished with 108 net rushing yards out of 154 total rushing yards. Brian Maddox led the way with 66 yards and the touchdown.

Brian Maddox (2:07)

Eric Norwood had another big night with eight tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss. The Gamecock defense totaled six sacks. Shaq Wilson also had eight tackles while Devin Taylor, playing in his first game, had six tackles, a sack, three tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and a blocked punt.

Eric Norwood (3:07)

Ellis Johnson

The Gamecocks did lose linebacker Rodney Paulk in the game to a torn ACL and the early indications were he will miss the season. This after sitting out last season because of his knee. His loss means more shifting on defense for coordinator Ellis Johnson.

Ellis Johnson (5:32)

GA Mangus

The Gamecocks finished with just 256 total yards on 64 plays. They had the one interception and allowed three sacks. Quarterbacks coach GA Mangus knows without the defense, the game may very well have been lost.

GA Mangus (1:57)

The Gamecocks play their SEC opener next Saturday at Georgia.

USC-NC State post game stat book

Filed Under: USC Gamecocks Tagged With: Brian Maddox, Ellis Johnson, Eric Norwood, GA Mangus, Stephen Garcia, Steve Spurrier

USC practice report and post practice audio

August 31, 2009 By Phil Kornblut

Report from USC sports information:

The University of South Carolina football team returned to the Bluff Road practice fields on Monday night after being forced indoors on Sunday. They are just three days away from opening the 2009 season with a Thursday night date in Raleigh with the NC State Wolfpack. That contest will be televised nationally on ESPN beginning at 7 p.m.

Steve Spurrier Audio (4:04)

“Just a normal Wednesday night practice on Monday,” said head coach Steve Spurrier following the workout. “Hopefully our guys will be ready to play well Thursday night.”

There was some question earlier in the week as to why Tori Gurley moved ahead of Jason Barnes on the depth chart at wide receiver. “The reason Tori passed him up is because Tori practiced better than Jason. We got all of that straightened out. Guys that practice the best are usually the guys who are starting.”

“We’ve had good spirit the last couple of days,” noted Coach Spurrier about the mood of his team. “It’s getting closer. We don’t run or hit as much as we’ve been doing. We’re hopefully getting ready for a ballgame and getting ready to play our best.”

The Gamecocks will return to the practice fields again on Tuesday at 4:15 p.m. That practice is closed.

GA Mangus Audio (0:59)

Filed Under: USC Gamecocks Tagged With: GA Mangus, Steve Spurrier