South Carolina 44-20 Texas A&M (Nov 2, 2024) Game Recap

COLUMBIA, S.C. — — LaNorris Sellers ran for 106 yards and threw for 244 extra and South Carolina lastly knocked off one of many Southeastern Convention’s playoff contenders, beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 on Saturday night time.

The Gamecocks (5-3, 3-3) took LSU and Alabama to the wire this season earlier than dropping. However this time their freshman quarterback and senior switch Raheim Sanders ran throughout Aggies (7-2, 5-1), who got here into Saturday permitting simply 104.5 yards a sport.

Sanders, the all-SEC switch from Arkansas, rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

Sellers threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for one more rating.

“He is particular. He is simply going to get higher,” Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer mentioned in regards to the quarterback who performed solely his fourth full sport in school. “When he had these two losses towards LSU and Alabama he was inexperienced.”

Beamer mentioned he felt like all he heard earlier than the sport was how highly effective Texas A&M was on each traces. He was proud they gained 286 yards on the bottom and shut out the Aggies within the second half.

“We’re a fairly freaking bodily workforce round right here too,” Beamer mentioned is a raspy voice with a thick black chain with a Gamecock emblem round his neck that was given to him by a scholar storming the sector.

The Aggies floor their means via the SEC to be the final undefeated workforce within the league and labored their means again to a lead earlier than halftime after falling behind 14-0 lower than six minutes into the sport.

However South Carolina’s chaotic protection got here via when wanted. It stopped the Aggies twice on fourth-and-1, picked off Marcel Reed’s move because the freshman threw off his again foot as Texas A&M drove early within the fourth quarter, then scooped up Reed’s fumble to squash their final hope.

Reed was 18 of 28 for 206 yards and ran for 46 yards because the Aggies starter Conner Weigman did not play. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko mentioned Reed is the starter proper now however that would at all times change,

Texas A&M speeding chief Le’Veon Moss left the sport early and did not come again. Elko mentioned his damage did not look as critical as first thought, however he was ready for extra data.

Large guys

Over and over, the Texas A&M protection appeared to have Sellers sacked or Sanders stopped for a brief acquire they usually bounced away. Elko mentioned his workforce wants to understand it takes good type to carry down huge males.

“Clearly I did a poor job getting our protection to know the way you deal with a 240-pound child. We stored attempting to rise up excessive,” Aggies coach Mike Elko mentioned at his postgame information convention, his feedback barely heard over followers nonetheless within the stands and on the sector yelling “Recreation” and “Cocks.”

Takeaways

Texas A&M: The loss is a blow to the Aggies’ SEC title hopes, however not a deadly one. They be a part of 4 different groups — LSU, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas — with one convention loss. Texas A&M is at lowly Auburn then ends the common season internet hosting the Longhorns. They’ve by no means made it to Atlanta to play within the championship sport in 13 years within the SEC.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks are one of many SEC’s most unstable groups. Saturday they confirmed they’ll beat about anybody within the league and are only a win away from a bowl with decrease division Wofford nonetheless on the schedule.

Ballot implications

No. 10 Texas A&M goes to drop some locations within the AP High 25, however with losses by each groups tied at eleventh, Iowa State and Clemson, the Aggies might not fall too far.

Up subsequent

Texas A&M: Hosts New Mexico State on Nov. 16.

South Carolina: At Vanderbilt subsequent Saturday.

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