The Sports Xchange
Nov 7, 2015
Tennessee stopped a late surge by South Carolina led by quarterback Perry Orth and held on to beat the visiting Gamecocks 27-24 in an SEC game?on Saturday.
South Carolina's last threatening drive ended after Orth completed a pass to open receiver Jerell Adams, who broke free for 30 yards inside the Tennessee 15-yard line before fumbling the ball. Tennessee cornerback Malik Foreman forced the fumble and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin recovered the ball with 1:14 remaining to thwart the drive.
The Volunteers (5-4, 3-3 SEC) managed to hold on after taking a 17-0 lead on placekicker Aaron Medley's 44-yard field in the second quarter. They scored only 10 more points against South Carolina (3-6, 1-6), capped by Medley's 27-yard field goal with 9:14 left in the fourth quarter that put his team ahead 27-24.
Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs threw two touchdown passes, including an 11-yard strike to receiver Alvin Kamara with 4:25 left in the third quarter to put the Volunteers ahead 24-17. Dobbs completed 20 of 34 pass attempts for 255 yards and also rushed for 33 yards on 13 carries.
Orth kept the Gamecocks in the game, throwing three touchdown passes in the third quarter. His 5-yard scoring pass to receiver Pharoh Cooper, and the extra-point by placekicker Elliott Fry, with 48 seconds left in the third quarter tied the game at 24.
Orth completed 20 of 39 pass attempts for 228 yards.