SportsDirect Inc. staff
Aug 29, 2013
No. 7 South Carolina 27, North Carolina 10: Mike Davis rushed for 115 yards and a long touchdown as the host Gamecocks benefited from two big plays in their lightning-delayed season opener.
South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw completed 11 of 20 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown and backup Dylan Thompson also threw a touchdown pass for the Gamecocks. Shaq Roland caught two passes for 75 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown reception on the gameกฏs third play from scrimmage.
North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner completed 26 of 43 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown to Quinshad Davis, who caught four passes for 39 yards. Romar Morris led the rushing attack with 69 yards.
The Gamecocks scored 79 seconds into the game as Shaw found Roland deep down the middle in one-on-one coverage. Thompson replaced Shaw later in the first half and found the end zone on his first pass attempt, hitting Kane Whitehurst for a 29-yard strike.
Elliott Fry kicked field goals of 39 and 26 yards in the opening half, the second giving the Gamecocks a 20-7 lead with 1:32 remaining. After the Tar Heels kicked a field goal on their opening drive of the second half, Davis broke loose on a 75-yard touchdown run, eclipsing the 100-yard rushing barrier for the first time in his college career and pushing the lead back to 17.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The game was delayed for one hour, 44 minutes midway through the fourth quarter because of lightning strikes in the area. กญ South Carolina starting CB Victor Hampton suffered a sprained neck while returning a punt midway through the second quarter, but returned to start the second half. North Carolina long snapper Mack Lloyd suffered a right leg injury on the same play and did not return. ... Renner and Davis hooked up on a 4-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter, capping a 16-play drive that was North Carolinaกฏs longest against an FBS opponent since 2004.