Skip to main content

No. 21 South Carolina beats Pirates 33-23

By WTOP Staff

PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Steve Spurrier was much happier about South Carolina’s improved performance than about his lastest career milestone.

The 21st-ranked Gamecocks bounced back from an embarrassing opening-week loss to Texas A&M with a 33-23 victory over East Carolina on Saturday night. Mike Davis rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns, the offensive line controlled things during a fourth-quarter drive of nearly 11 minutes and the defensive forced a pair of turnovers and blocked a field goal — all which Spurrier considered far more important than his 200th career win as a Southeastern Conference coach.

“This was a good win,” Spurrier said. “It was a fun one.”

Certainly a lot more fun than the last one, when the Gamecocks (1-1) were run of their building in a 52-28 loss to the Aggies. Davis managed just 15 yards before leaving with bruised ribs and South Carolina’s defense allowed a school-worst 680 yards.

“It worked out for us,” Spurrier said. “Not quite as talented as some of our teams in the past, that’s obvious. But the kids hung in there.”

The Gamecocks (1-1) trailed 13-7 early on with the Pirates (1-1) threatening to put another Aggie-style beating on them. But behind Davis’ grinding runs and the defense’s improving play, South Carolina found its footing in its first win of the season.

Spurrier became the third person ever with that many wins while coaching SEC teams. Only Paul “Bear” Bryant with 292 and Vince Dooley with 201 have more than the head ball coach. Spurrier can tie Dooley next week against his old team when the Gamecocks host No. 6 Georgia at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Did the head ball coach think much about the achievement?

“Oh, I hadn’t really thought about that, I was hoping to get a win,” he said. “I was worried about going into the Georgia game 0-2.”

The Gamecocks got four field goals from Elliott Fry and a 16-yard touchdown pass from Dylan Thompson to K.J. Brent.

East Carolina closed to 30-23 on Cam Worthy’s 17-yard TD catch with 12:03 left. But the Gamecocks went on a nearly 11-minute drive, finishing with Fry’s 20-yard field goal with 1:30 left to put the game away.

The series lasted 18 plays, the last 13 of them on the ground.

“Everybody in the stadium knew where the ball was going and we still had success with it,” Thompson said.

East Carolina quarterback Shane Carden threw for 321 yards, the second time in as many weeks the Gamecocks have given up big passing numbers after the Aggies’ Kenny Hill threw for 511.

Pirates receiver Justin Hardy had 11 catches for 133 yards.

South Carolina was desperate to show some polish on offense and toughness on defense. But it was the Pirates of the American Athletic Conference who got the jump on things. Carden looked a lot like Texas A&M record-setter Hill, completing long passes and quickly moving East Carolina down field for a pair of field goals and Chris Hairston’s 10-yard TD run to move in front 13-7.

But Davis, who last year gained 1,183 yards, turned things the Gamecocks’ way.

The junior had missed the second half against Texas A&M with bruised ribs — and a sizeable Aggies lead — and didn’t start this one. He got going late in the opening quarter with his twisting, 36-yard touchdown run helped by some solid downfield blocks by tight end Rory Anderson and receiver Shaq Roland.

Davis put the Gamecocks ahead to stay in the second quarter. He took a sideline swing pass from Thompson 19 yards to the East Carolina 3, then finished off the drive on the next play for a 17-13 lead.

It was Davis’ first 100-yard effort in six games since rushing for 128 in a win over Mississippi State last Nov. 2. And Davis vowed he wouldn’t let lingering bumps and bruises keep him from facing Georgia and their backfield star, Todd Gurley.

“I feel good. I don’t remember the injury,” Davis said.

For East Carolina, this was the start of a three-game stretch against programs from the “Power Five” conferences. The Pirates take on Virginia Tech and North Carolina the next two weeks.

“This is a tough loss but we’re right back at it next week against a very good team,” said Carden, the quarterback. “We can’t dwell on this.”

South Carolina’s defense stiffened up after a rough start against the Pirates. The Gamecocks gave up 195 yards in the opening period and just 82 in the second quarter.

Defensive lineman Gerald Dixon Jr. ended another drive by blocking Harvey’s 42-yard field goal try late in the second quarter. It was the Gamecocks first blocked field goal since 2011 when current Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore did it against Tennessee.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote