The Halftime Report: South Carolina Vs. Jacksonville State
The South Carolina Gamecocks entered today's game against Jacksonville State looking to get some positive momentum back on their side. Although their inconsistent play continues to haunt them, Rattler and the gang have found ways to make plays happen, as Shane Beamer's squad finds itself up 21-14 over their Gamecock brethren as they head to the locker room.
Offensively, Spencer Rattler and the Gamecocks started the game with a bang, driving 62 yards in just two minutes and 38 seconds, finishing it off with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Tonka Hemingway in Carolina's new jumbo package. Over the next two drives however, Dowell Loggains seemed to continue attempting to establish a ground game, and Jacksonville State began adjusting according, and forced consecutive punts.
On the next offensive possession, Loggains went called a shot play on second down, and Rattler connected with Xavier Legette for a 52-yard gain, and three plays later, the Gamecocks found the endzone. Explosive plays were the driving force behind South Carolina's offensive success in the first half, with Loggains' unit recording six in total.
Xavier Legette bracing for a tackle against Tennessee (30th Sept., 2023)
Caitie McMekin | The Knoxville News-Sentinel
On the other side of the ball, we saw things play out similarly to the Texas A&M game last week. Clayton White's unit got off to a fantastic start, stringing together 3 three-and-outs to start the first quarter against this Rich Rodriguez offense. Things would change, however, on Jacksonville State's fourth offensive drive, as Carolina would allow a pivotal 3rd down conversion due to some lackluster tackling in the second level. An explosive pass play to the Gamecocks' slot receiver would then set up a 15-yard touchdown catch and run Jacksonville State, which once again saw multiple South Carolina defenders miss opportunities to bring down the receiver.
This trend continued for the rest of the first half, as Jacksonville State started getting into a rhythm with their up-tempo pace and continued to lean on their ground game, which earned them another touchdown in the second quarter. Offensively, the Gamecocks need to continue to let their passing game lead the offense, while the defense needs regain their composure and get back to the fundamentals they played with on their first three drives of the game. It'll be interesting to see how things shake out in what's a crucial half for South Carolina.
How To Watch: South Carolina vs Jacksonville State
- Gameday: Saturday, November 4th, 2023.
- Venue: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, SC
- Game time: 12:00 pm ET
- Kickoff Forecast (via Accuweather): 62 Degrees | Sunny (Chance For Rain: 0%)
- TV: ESPNU
- Live stream on fuboTV: Start with a 7-day free trial!
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