Nolan comes off bench, leads Gamecocks previous Vanderbilt

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Former South Carolina grad assistant turned quarterback Zeb Noland threw a 9-yard landing cross to Xavier Legette with 37 seconds left to rally the Gamecocks to a 21-20 victory and lengthen Vanderbilt’s dropping streak in opposition to Southeastern Convention opponents to 16 on Saturday evening.

Noland, who had joined coach Shane Beamer’s employees this season, got here in with South Carolina (4-3, 1/3 SEC) trailing 20-14 and at risk of its tenth straight SEC loss.

However he accomplished 5 of 8 passes for 75 yards on the ultimate drive, the final a strike to Legette at the back of the top zone. Parker White hit the additional level and the Gamecocks received their thirteenth straight over Vanderbilt (2-5, 0-3).

It seemed just like the Commodores can be those celebrating after Joseph Bulovas hit a 28-yard area purpose with 1:36 to go for a 20-14 lead. Vanderbilt’s protection had held South Carolina scoreless for practically 49 minutes with Luke Doty as quarterback.

However Noland, 24, gave South Carolina the successful spark and Beamer his first SEC victory since taking on this system final December.

Vanderbilt quarterback Mike Wright threw for 206 yards together with a 52-yard landing cross to Will Sheppard for a 17-14 lead within the third quarter that held up till the ultimate seconds.

South Carolina and Doty struck for a 14-3 lead within the recreation’s first 10 minutes. Doty threw a 2-yard landing cross to tight finish Nick Muse and an 82-yard rating to Jaheim Bell.

That is when the errors and questionable resolution=making began for the Gamecocks.

They handed up a chip-shot area purpose within the second quarter on the Vandy 14 and failed on fourth-and-short.

Doty accomplished a 28-yard throw to tight finish Jaheim Bell to the Vanderbilt 11 within the third quarter. However Bell misplaced the soccer as he tried for further yards and cornerback Jaylen Mahoney recovered.

Usually dependable kicker White, who hadn’t missed a kick all season, was broad proper from 38 yards out with an opportunity to tie on the Gamecocks subsequent collection.

Doty was picked off twice within the fourth quarter so Beamer turned to Noland on the finish.

Wright had a 44-yard cross to Cam Johnson on his first collection and a 50-yard completion to Will Sheppard on the following drive – the Commodores’ two longest performs this season.

Vanderbilt broke its season-long scoring drought in opposition to the SEC with Joseph Bulovas’ 42-yard area purpose within the opening quarter. The Commodores added their first TD in league play when Rocko Griffin Jr. ran in from a yard out to benefit from a South Carolina fumble and reduce the result in 14-10.

Bell had six catches for 136 yards for South Carolina.

THE TAKEAWAY

Vanderbilt: The Commodores seemed near getting the SEC monkey off their backs. They’d held robust all through, however could not forestall Noland from driving South Carolina to the successful rating. They will subsequent attempt to finish the streak in opposition to Mississippi State.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks offense and coordinator Marcus Satterfield have come beneath heavy hearth the previous few video games. They trailed at Tennessee 35-0 within the opening half and had been booed at Williams-Brice Stadium because the offensive errors and penalties piled up. This outcome will solely have followers calling on a quarterback change going ahead.

MISSING PLAYE RS

Whereas Vanderbilt was with out injured beginning quarterback Ken Seals, South Carolina was additionally minus a number of key gamers in beginning proper sort out Dylan Wonnum and receiver Jalen Brooks. Gamecocks’ reserve tailback JuJu McDowell was additionally listed as “unavailable.”

UP NEXT

Vanderbilt begins a three-game homestand in opposition to Mississippi State subsequent Saturday.

South Carolina travels to Texas A&M subsequent Saturday evening.