South Carolina 44-20 Texas A&M (Nov 2, 2024) Game Recap

COLUMBIA, S.C. — — LaNorris Sellers ran for 106 yards and threw for 244 extra and South Carolina lastly knocked off one of many Southeastern Convention’s playoff contenders, beating No. 10 Texas A&M 44-20 on Saturday evening.

The Gamecocks (5-3, 3-3) took LSU and Alabama to the wire this season earlier than shedding. However this time their freshman quarterback and senior switch Raheim Sanders ran throughout Aggies (7-2, 5-1), who got here into Saturday permitting simply 104.5 yards a sport.

Sanders, the all-SEC switch from Arkansas, rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

Sellers threw for 2 touchdowns and ran for an additional rating.

“He is particular. He is simply going to get higher,” Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer stated in regards to the quarterback who performed solely his fourth full sport in faculty. “When he had these two losses in opposition to LSU and Alabama he was inexperienced.”

Beamer stated he felt like all he heard earlier than the sport was how highly effective Texas A&M was on each traces. He was proud they gained 286 yards on the bottom and shut out the Aggies within the second half.

“We’re a reasonably freaking bodily group round right here too,” Beamer stated is a raspy voice with a thick black chain with a Gamecock brand round his neck that was given to him by a scholar storming the sphere.

The Aggies floor their manner by the SEC to be the final undefeated group within the league and labored their manner again to a lead earlier than halftime after falling behind 14-0 lower than six minutes into the sport.

However South Carolina’s chaotic protection got here by when wanted. It stopped the Aggies twice on fourth-and-1, picked off Marcel Reed’s go because the freshman threw off his again foot as Texas A&M drove early within the fourth quarter, then scooped up Reed’s fumble to squash their final hope.

Reed was 18 of 28 for 206 yards and ran for 46 yards because the Aggies starter Conner Weigman did not play. Texas A&M coach Mike Elko stated Reed is the starter proper now however that would at all times change,

Texas A&M speeding chief Le’Veon Moss left the sport early and did not come again. Elko stated his damage did not look as critical as first thought, however he was ready for extra info.

Huge guys

Again and again, the Texas A&M protection appeared to have Sellers sacked or Sanders stopped for a brief acquire and so they bounced away. Elko stated his group wants to comprehend it takes good kind to convey down huge males.

“Clearly I did a poor job getting our protection to know the way you deal with a 240-pound child. We stored attempting to rise up excessive,” Aggies coach Mike Elko stated at his postgame information convention, his feedback barely heard over followers nonetheless within the stands and on the sphere yelling “Sport” and “Cocks.”

Takeaways

Texas A&M: The loss is a blow to the Aggies’ SEC title hopes, however not a deadly one. They be a part of 4 different groups — LSU, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas — with one convention loss. Texas A&M is at lowly Auburn then ends the common season internet hosting the Longhorns. They’ve by no means made it to Atlanta to play within the championship sport in 13 years within the SEC.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks are one of many SEC’s most unstable groups. Saturday they confirmed they’ll beat about anybody within the league and are only a win away from a bowl with decrease division Wofford nonetheless on the schedule.

Ballot implications

No. 10 Texas A&M goes to drop some locations within the AP High 25, however with losses by each groups tied at eleventh, Iowa State and Clemson, the Aggies could not fall too far.

Up subsequent

Texas A&M: Hosts New Mexico State on Nov. 16.

South Carolina: At Vanderbilt subsequent Saturday.

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