Missed opportunities and turnovers doomed the Pirates as they fell to No. 21 South Carolina, 33-23, at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday night.
Despite outgaining South Carolina with 453 total yards, ECU struggled with third-down conversions (6-for-12) and had to settle with field goals instead of touchdowns early on.
The Gamecocks’ defense that faltered against Texas A&M last week managed to cause trouble for ECU quarterback Shane Carden, who completed just 32 of 46 passes and threw two untimely interceptions — his first two turnovers of the season— to start the second half.
Carden’s lone touchdown pass of the game was a 17-yard score to fellow senior receiver Cam Worthy in the fourth quarter to trim South Carolina’s lead to a touchdown, 30-23.
However, The Pirates’ defensive unit could not give the ball back to Carden and Co. and the Gamecocks melted over 10 minutes of game clock and buried the decisive field goal to put the game away.
Early in the game, ECU limited South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson and the Gamecocks’ offense to a punt and interception on its first two drives. After that, the Gamecocks put together seven straight scoring drives fueled by Thompson and junior running back Mike Davis’ 101 rushing yards.
Davis, who was listed as doubtful early in the week, scored two touchdowns on his 18 carries.
“I was asked about Mike Davis and I had no doubt he would be back,” said ECU Head Coach Ruffin McNeill. They were able to do what we call four-man offense. We do it too.”
With the victory, Spurrier picked up his 200th win as an SEC head coach and also his 50th home win in Columbia, SC.
ECU only trailed 20-16 at halftime and had some hope with its opening drive of the third quarter. The Pirates were marching down the field until Carden tossed his first interception of the game on a throw he intended to toss out of bounds.
With that pick, the momentum shifted to the Gamecocks and remained with them until the game’s end. At that point, ECU’s exhausted defense, led by linebackers Zeek Bigger and Montese Overton, had no answers for South Carolina’s steady running attack.
Senior receiver Justin Hardy averaged over 12 yards-per-reception with 133 total yards. Coming off a career high game, sophomore Isaiah Jones added 46 yards on eight catches and Worthy had 46 yards from three receptions.
The Pirates couldn’t match the rushing intensity of Mike Davis, but did well with junior Chris Hairston and senior Breon Allen. Hairston ran six carries for 35 yards and a touchdown, while Allen did damage with a 44-yard run in the second quarter.
ECU will hope for better luck in Blacksburg, VA, as they take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in a Saturday noon matchup.
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