Gamecocks Can’t Complete Bowl Comeback vs. USF

[gtxvideo vid=’5Y9rzNxb’ thumb=’http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/5Y9rzNxb.jpg’ vtitle=’Gamecocks Can’t Complete Bowl Comeback vs. USF’]

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WOLO) — The Gamecocks almost did it.

Trailing 39-21, USC looked on the verge of a blowout loss to 25th-ranked South Florida Thursday afternoon in the Birmingham Bowl. But slowly, the Gamecocks chipped away, scoring 18 unanswered points on their way to force overtime.

USC’s comeback was fueled by back-to-back touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The first, a beautiful 9-yard touchdown pass from Jake Bentley to Bryan Edwards. The other coming on a 1-yard touchdown run by AJ Turner capped by a Bentley-to-Hayden-Hurst successful two-point conversion attempt to tie the game 39-39.

But as swift and supersonic as Carolina’s comeback seemed, USF’s answer was instantaneous.

In overtime, USF’s first possession and first pass would be all they’d need. With a 39-39 tie, Bulls quarterback Quinton Flowers dropped back, rolled right, and found Elkanah Dillon for the 25-yard touchdown strike.

USC would take over in OT and put together a solid drive, aided by a facemask penalty on USF’s Kirk Livingstone on 2nd and 10. The ball would be placed on the 13-yard-line, but after back-to-back runs by AJ Turner for 4 yards total, the Gamecocks would be faced with a 3rd down attempt. On 3rd and 6, Jake Bentley’s pass, intended for Hayden Hurst would fall incomplete.

Will Muschamp didn’t ponder what to do next, immediately calling for a timeout to draw a play that would ultimately fail. Jake Bentley, on 4th and 6, was sacked, causing a fumble recovered by USF’s Khalid McGee.

Just like that, the comeback was over and so was the 2016 season.

The Gamecocks finished the season 6-7, the second-straight losing season for USC. The program hasn’t suffered consecutive losing seasons since 2002-2003.

The positives: Carolina’s offense put up over 481 yards, setting a new Birmingham Bowl record. Jake Bentley and Deebo Samuel also now hold bowl records: Bentley for most passing yards in the bowl game (390) and Samuel for most receiving yards (190).

The negatives: USC couldn’t stop South Florida’s offense, run or pass. The Gamecocks allowed 469 yards and 5 TD’s. The other 5: turnovers. Carolina fumbled three times and threw two interceptions.