COLUMBIA, South Carolina - No. 22 South Carolina ended
the regular season on a high note, holding on for a 20-15
victory over Clemson in the 99th meeting between the Palmetto
State rivals.
The banged-up Gamecocks (8-3) rebounded from last week's 54-17
loss to Florida and reached eight wins in consecutive seasons
for the first time since 1987-88. South Carolina also snapped a
four-game losing streak against Clemson and beat the Tigers at
home for the first time since 1987.
The Gamecocks reached eight wins last season by beating Ohio
State, 23-7, in the Outback Bowl. They have not won nine games
since 1984.
"We will be ranked 52 weeks in a row," South Carolina coach Lou
Holtz said. "We stayed in the top 25 all year. I am proud of
that. It's not easy to do in this conference. That's eight wins
back-to-back."
"I want to congratulate South Carolina, coach Holtz and his
staff," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden added. "They really took it
to us in the second half. I agree with what I said earlier. You
don't appreciate a victory in this rivalry until you lose it."
Quarterback Phil Petty played with a bruised shoulder and
running back Derek Watson was in action despite a hip pointer.
Linebacker Kalimba Edwards, a semifinalist for both the Butkus
and Lombardi awards, missed the game with a knee sprain.
"This is my last game against Clemson," Petty said. "I was
hurting at halftime. It's pain, but you play through it.
Personally, being from this state, this is our biggest win since
I've been here. This is the happiest I've ever been. Hopefully,
this puts us in good position for a bowl."
Clemson (5-5), which suffered its third straight loss, closed to
20-15 on Woodrow Dantzler's 11-yard touchdown pass to Derrick
Hamilton with 2:38 remaining. But the Gamecocks recovered the
onside kick and ran out the clock.
"With a long losing streak against Clemson, this was a huge
win," South Carolina running back Ryan Brewer said. "This was
big for the seniors. We wanted to send them out with a win."
South Carolina started slowly, falling behind, 6-0, on
Dantzler's 50-yard TD strike to Airese Currie with nine
remaining in the opening quarter.
The Gamecocks got on the board on Daniel Weaver's 29-yard field
goal with 9:05 left in the first half. After Aaron Hunt booted a
24-yard field goal for Clemson five minutes later, South
Carolina took a 10-9 halftime lead on Derek Watson's six-yard TD
scamper with 2:26 left. Watson was held to 54 yards on 18
carries.
After Weaver converted a 42-yarder midway through the third
period, the Gameocks made it 20-9 on Corey Jenkins' one-yard TD
plunge 2:33 into the final period.
"The turning point was the third quarter," Bowden said. "They
had some long drives. We needed more chances with the ball."
Andrew Pinnock paced South Carolina on the ground with 80 yards
on 14 carries. Petty completed 14-of-23 for 152 yards with an
interception in his final home appearance.
Dantzler rushed for 102 yards on 20 carries and completed
15-of-19 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. But he did not
get much help, accounting for all but 44 of the Tigers' 350
total yards.
"This was a tough game, but we were very psyched," South
Carolina linebacker Jonathan Martin said. "Woody did a good job
of mixing it up. A lot of times we were tired out there."
Clemson has dropped four of its last five and needs to win next
week's finale against Duke to become bowl eligible.
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