Rucker Catches TD, Spurrier Pleased With Spring Game

COLUMBIA, S.C. ( USC SID) — Carolina fans had their first chance to watch the Gamecock football team in action at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday afternoon, as the team held its annual Spring Game. The Black team would come away with the 14-13 win after scoring in the waning seconds on a pass fromone space Michael Scarnecchiaone space toone space Terry Googer. The Garnet team used some big plays in the passing game to open the scoring on the game’s very first drive. Led byConnor Mitchone space at quarterback, the offense went 70 yards on four plays. Mitch set up the touchdown with a 42-yard completion toJerell Adams. The team then turned to its secret weapon to convert, with Mitch hitting country music star Darius Rucker in the weak-side corner of the end zone for the 7-0 lead. On the Black team’s second drive of the game, late in the first quarter, Scarnecchia tied the game up at 7-7 on a two-yard keeper. It was a fitting end to a grind-it-out drive that went 15 plays for 69 yards and just over five minutes. The running combination ofDarius Paulkone space andShon Carsonone space were able to convert two third downs and a fourth-and-one and keep the scoring drive alive. In the second quarter, Garnet would account for all the scoring to take a 13-7 lead into halftime. Elliott Frye kicked a 48-yard field goal in the first drive of the second quarter, longer than any field goal he hit in the 2014 season. On the ensuing possession for the Black team,Jasper Sasserstepped in front of aPerry Orthone space pass, which would set up a 29-yard field goal for Frye after a six-play drive stalled for the Garnet. Playing with a rolling clock for the second half, the defense continued its strong day with just 63 yards allowed in the entire third quarter, leading to a trio of punts from newcomerone space Sean Kelly. Mitch closed his day out after the second drive of the third quarter, finishing 10-of-16 with 183 yards and a touchdown for the Garnet side. Perry Orthone space switched over to the Garnet side to start the fourth quarter, and moved the ball into the redzone looking to add to the 13-7 lead. The offense would get to the nine yard line before a tipped pass would find the waiting arms of Sasser for his second pick of the afternoon. The Black team would take over at its own five yard line, looking to go 95 yards with 4:22 to play. After completing just 2-of-7 passing attempts in the first half, Scarnecchia locked in for the second half as the Black team’s primary quarterback. He started eventual game-winning drive with three consecutive completions that covered 67 yards total and put the Black side all the way to the Garnet 28. A sack byone space Kelsey Griffinone space would set them back, but Scarnecchia hit Deebo Samuels over the middle for 33 yards to set the team up at the two. After trying to rush it in, the Black team was able to beat the clock on an inside slant route to Googer as the final seconds ticked off. KEY STAT Michael Scarnecchiaone space went 10-of-12 passing for 162 yards over the final three quarters of the game. In total, the Carolina quarterbacks were a combined 33-of-54 for 511 yards and two touchdowns.one space  NOTABLESTight endone space Kevin Crosbyone space led all receivers with three catches for 70 yards, including a long of 39.Rod Talleyone space led the team with five rushes for 43 yards as part of the Garnet team, including a run of 16 yards.On defense,one space Kelsey Griffinone space had 5.5 tackles and one sack.one space Darius Englishone space totaled four tackles (two for loss), a sack and a pass breakup.In his first time punting for the team,one space Sean Kellyone space averaged 41.8 yards on four punts, with a long of 51 yards. QUOTABLESouth Carolina Head Coachone space Steve Spurrier Opening Statement It seems like we got a lot of plays in for six offensive linemen the whole day. We had us a little bit of a game. It was neat to see Michael Scarnechia connect withone space Deebo Samuelone space and get down to the one or two yard line and then hitone space Terry Googerone space on the slant there with the clock running out. It added a little bit of suspense to an otherwise not a super duper offensive game. I thought all of the quarterbacks did some pretty good things out there today. I wish we would get the ball of out their hands. They like to take off running every now and then. It looked like there was a lot of sacks out there that would have happened if the quarterbacks would have been live. ButConnor Mitchone space threw for 180 yards, 10 out of 16. Scarnechia was 12 and 19, 191 yards.Perry Orthone space was 11-of-20. They all seem to have their stats very similar every time we scrimmage. That shows the kind of team we are right there. I don’t think anyone got hurt seriously and there was some good hustle out there. I think the defense looked good playing just two coverages. There were no mistakes. When you only play two coverages it’s hard to make a mistake. That is certainly something we can improve upon what we did last year as far as everyone knowing what to do. That gives you a chance. Spring practice is over. We’re ready to get in for the summer, ready to finish out the semester academically as strong as we can. That’s the main thing these next two weeks is to finish academically and get ready for the summer.