Takeaways from Gamecocks' rout of Texas A&M

COLUMBIA They finished one.

Convincingly.

No blown lead here (well, except they did before retrieving it).

No series of wrong moves here (not really, just a turnover near a bad decision next to another bad decision).

No wondering if South Carolina can get out of its own way (halftime must have featured multiple hits off the Monstars basketball ).

Why the David Downers? Its the residual of when it does finally come together after some incredibly agonizing giveaways.

Is it ...

did they ...

it counts, this one? It does, and for a lot.

All of a sudden, a mere bowl season is not only hoped for, its the minimum; what could still be a very special year not only possible, but rounding into reality.

Blastoff! Rocket Sanders torches No.

10 Texas A&M as Gamecocks roll to upset Takeaways from a bell-answering win over a top-10 team: The Gamecocks offensive line actually gave Rocket Sanders and LaNorris Sellers open lanes to run through so they didnt have to break tackles and/or run through contact as soon as they turned their noses upfield.

They gave Sellers room to throw when he wanted to try.

Most importantly and so much credit goes to the quarterback himself for twisting out of tackles for loss that looked preordained they gave up no sacks.

Yes, USCs offensive line, only better than one team in the country at keeping its quarterback off the ground , gave up no sacks.

None.

A doughnut hole.

And blew open enough room for 286 rushing yards, the best total in an SEC game under Shane Beamer.

One more poor pass-blocking game away from linking arms on every dropback, the line instead became a mastodons vertebrae, keeping the beast upright and lethal until it could deliver the final blow.

Last years injury-bedecked line melded at about this point of the season; is this the repeat tour? Still not sure how he got out of some of those sacks.

Sellers twisted out of quite a few would-be sacks to keep plays alive, then decided to strike a blow everywhere for quarterbacks who say, Sideline? I dont need no stinkin sideline when he Bo Jacksoned the Aggies B.J.

Mayes, then playing the role of Brian Bosworth.

To be honest, I really dont know, Sellers shrugged about his magicianship.

Making a play, being aware, step up in the pocket, find a lane, be decisive and go.

He only completed 13 of 27 passes but still threw for 244 yards with two touchdowns while rushing for 106 and another score.

Sellers took no sacks.

Most importantly, continuing the trend from Oklahoma, he had zero turnovers.

The one fumble he lost was wiped due to a penalty.

All one can ask from a young QB is he keeps growing.

There is still room to blossom, but there is no doubt Sellers is measuring himself week by week against the doorjamb, and every mark is higher than the one before.

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He wasnt bad in USCs first seven games, but a lack of a consistently performing line and having to get every single yard through contact was wearing on him.

It was different on Saturday.

He was bulling over defenders with an extra shiver of shoulder, spinning faster than a politician on the issues, and when the holes appeared, he filled them before winning every footrace A&M challenged him to.

Texas A&M defensive back Dalton Brooks (25) can't keep South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders (5) from the end zone on his 52-yard touchdown run during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov.

2,.

I feel like I could have done better in all circumstances, he nonchalantly said after piling up 222 of USCs 530 yards.

Much better than that and hes going to boil Dowell Loggains playbook down to one page, titled Stud Hoss Run.

This was no get-an-orange-slice before getting back on the field.

The Gamecocks halftime on Saturday may have been the most productive in the history of the program.

It was 20-20, USC frittering away an early lead but regrouping to get downfield bereft of timeouts and get Alex Herrera in position for game-tying field goal.

Beamer told his kids to relax while his coordinators got to work.

Clayton Whites defense had looked a step slow trying to keep Marcel Reed pegged.

It denied the Aggies the end zone throughout the second half.

Loggains offense had a boo-boo or two in the first half; in the second, it was letting Sellers have a bit more freedom, continuing to take deep shots even when caution seemed to be the better option and sending the sledgehammer wearing No.

5 to the edges of A&Ms defense.

USC was good in the first half, better in the second.

Its mimicking the season.

Going into last night, I thought the Gamecocks would lose.

Its a line of scrimmage game in a line of scrimmage league, and the Aggies looked better equipped to handle it.

I also played the mental game, Whats the most South Carolina thing that could happen? The answer was, Lose to A&M, head to Vanderbilt next week and be expected to lose to a Commodores team thats having a helluva year but show up and dominate.

The Gamecocks wiped their feet with A&M.

Vanderbilt will still be a tough one.

Can momentum from two straight convincing wins and carrying a 15-game winning streak in the series produce domination in Nashville? USC will settle for a win.

But is embracing its newfound life as the hunted, as the team the opponent has to beat, not the team trying to beat the opponent.

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer leaves the field while fans storm the field after an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M on Nov.

2, 2024, in Columbia.

South Carolina upset Texas A&M 44-20..

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