Field Level Media
Oct 2, 2021
Parker White kicked three field goals, the last from 37 yards with 2:20 left in the game, to secure South Carolina's 23-14 victory over visiting Troy on Saturday afternoon in Columbia, S.C.
White's final kick came after Juju McDowell's 13-yard, third-down run to the 19-yard line had made up for a block-in-the-back penalty that had moved the Gamecocks back to the 32.
Damani Staley's interception with 47 seconds left, his second of the season and ninth for the Gamecocks in five games, sealed it for South Carolina.
Luke Doty completed 20 of 34 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown for the Gamecocks (3-2). Jaylan Foster had a big day on defense with 12 tackles that included a sack and two forced fumbles.
B.J. Smith rushed for 103 yards a touchdown and Taylor Powell completed 19 of 34 passes for 136 yards for the Trojans (2-3). He was intercepted twice.
In a wild sequence of events at the start of the fourth quarter, the Gamecocks lost a touchdown when Jahmar Brown tossed the football in the air before crossing the goal line while returning a Troy fumble 61 yards, giving the Trojans the ball back on the resulting touchback.
The Trojans were forced to punt on the ensuing series, however, and the next two possessions ended with the teams exchanging fumbles.
The outcome of the chaos was the Gamecocks gaining possession at their 28-yard line with 8:17 left, setting up the decisive drive.
Earlier, the game seemed to take a major swing late in the first half when David Spaulding's interception halted a Trojan drive deep in South Carolina territory and his 74-yard return for a touchdown put the Gamecocks up 17-7 at the halftime break.
The Trojans responded by marching 75 yards to open the second half with Jamontez Woods scoring after Powell's 22-yard completion to A.J. Lewis and a targeting call put the ball at South Carolina's 1-yard line.
--Field Level Media