The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 21, 1981, Image 12
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By MIKE LOUGH
Staff Writer
Fortunately, the main thing in a sports
event is what the scoreboard says after it's
over. It's not how you won, but the fact that
you won.
The fact of the matter is that South
Carolina downed Duke Saturday, 17-3, to
redeem themselves after last week's loss to
Olf> Micc
OF" COURSE,THE game was not the best
game the Gamecocks have ever played, but
nobody wants to replay it. Especially Head
Football Coach Jim Carlen.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect
for Duke," Carlen said after the game.
"This was the best team they've had since
I've been here."
The final stats were close. Duke led in
first downs, net yards passing, didn't lose its
only fumble, was penalized 56 yards less
than the Gamecocks and opened some nice
holes offensively.
But after 60 minutes, the scoreboard said
"USC 17, Duke 3." And that's what counts.
"OUR KICKING GAME won it for us
tonight," Carlen said. "I think our kicking
game could be the best I've ever had. Our
punt returns were good. Troy Thomas
should get better and better."
Thomas returned three punts for 53 yards,
including a 32-yard return that set up USC's
first score. The 5-10 sophomore was named
Hardee's Defensive Player of the Game for
his performance.
As usual, both USC quarterbacks played a
good bit. This week, Gordon Beckham
started and failed to ignite the offense, then
_ . mMto
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ul"m vei7 piSef w^h
coach Mark Hereon. "He's played exceptional
given the t*m good leaderehiptefie backfiel
defensive back Mike Devine fired in USC's
picking up a loose ball when Belmont Abbey
out of their zone. Devine placed it in the rigl
net just out of reach of Belmont Abbey s goal!
5:01 into the match, Sweeper Eric Hawkes h
Burr's center with 20:54 left in the first h
Gamecocks a 2-0 lead.
It did not take tJSC long to score m the
seconds after Belmont Abbey kicked off,
Norton fired a shot into the upper right comer
again got the assist, His second of the day
season and highest on the club.
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Abbey away from their net. In the past twc
opponents have managed to get off only si*
Defensive backs Hawkes, Divine, John NM
Dunshee held Belmont Abbey to just fou
Carolina's offense gave keeper Grant Cut*
temoon with 17 shots on goal. ^ v
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nd Half
Terry Bishop came in and eventually got
things moving. But it took over a quarter to ll
do it. p
THE FIKST HALF was scoreless. The ll
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quarter, though, saw them at their own 23. "
Four downs later, they were still at the 23. M
Duke punted and USC took over at its own I
43 with Bishop, who came in with 11:44 left I
in the first half, calling the signals. r
Bishop kept for 14 tough yards, then a j|
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to the 34. But Bishop, noted more for his j
scrambling than passing, hit Horace Smith p
with a 21-yard strike.
Sophomore Dominque Blasingame ran for
five yards and Johnnie Wright was stopped ^
for no gain on the following play. Bishop, for
the third time of the night, was sacked for a I
nine-yard loss, putting the ball back to the |
17. USC resorted to a field goal, and Mark
Fleetwood- for the first time in six trialsmissed
the uprights.
DUKE TOOK OVER and, once more, the
defense held. Emanuael Weaver made the
big play with a crushing eight-yard sack of
Blue Devil quarterback Hon Salley.
With the line of scrimmage at the Duke 16
? thanks to a 33-vard ount return l>v Trov
?/ r %/ ~ y'
Thomas ? the Gamecocks had a golden
opportunity.
Bishop struggled for a yard before
linebacker Jim Tyson wrapped him up. <
Then, showing what he is noted for. Bishop
shot up the middle for a 15-yard touchdown f
on an option play. Fleetwood's point-after
split tne uprights, giving Carolina a 7-0 lead
with 5:56 left in the third quarter.
See WRIGHT, pa#e
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MWj Thomas' R<
? By DENNIS SWITZEK
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tBUon^ihtrapl- play a big part in a football
e to .83 a geil^eK game, the players have to
B," commentedj big? usually the bigger the
Defensive back Troy
first tally after Thomas stands only 5-10
tried to clear it without his game shoes and
it comer Of the weighs 1H0 pounds before
ie Grant Cuthill shoulder pads, but he played
eaded ill Bivid a very big role in Carolina's
all 10 give the l7-:i victory over Duke
Saturday night.
second half, 56 Thomas had five tackles
forward Tom and broke up two pass plays,
of the net. ButT one a possible Duke
fourth of the'' touchdown, en route to being
named Hardee's defensive
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games, USC's
: shots Oil goal. HUT THAT wasn't the only
&rdy, and Roy input that Thomas had in the
ir snots,;., wniie game, lie also ran back
Ml a tough af- three punts for r>:j yards,
' : including a :*2-yard scamper
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win Saturday night
Defense for 113 yarc
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m on j
e turns,Dei
down the right side in th<
third quarter to the Duke li
that led to the Gamecock:
first touchdown two play:
later.
' 4 ?~
"It was the same thing a
usual.we were running ;
right return, and the guys ii
front of me, they did som
good blocking. The defensive
line held 'em up so that all
had to do was run I
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ight tries to evade a Duke
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ensive Play
e~ daylight," Thomas said
6 after the game. I saw a little
s daylight, I was trying to
5 make it to the end zone," the
soohomorc from
"That's my job on
the punt return, to get
the ball down close
where the offense can
score/'
?Troy Thomas
I
s Ga.said.
x "I was pretty close to
ti breaking it. He (the tackier>
e came back from the outside
e and caught me," he added.
I Thomas had the task of
o covering two members of
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tackier in USC's 17-3
Jgh the Blue Devil ^
Photo by BAKFO NtWMA\
oIa
r Turn Tide*
Duke's 'bomb squad,' Hon
Frederick and Cedric Jones.
r recienek.Duke s leading
receiver last year, was held
to just one pass for 11 yards
while teammates Jones
snatched two for 40 yards,
but both were kept out of the
end zone. Coming into the ^
game, Jones was tied for ^
10th nationally in scoring.
averaging 12.0 points per
game.
SOI III CAROLINA
always lias a well-coached
secondary; they don't make
verv manv mistakes "
said. "They're always in the
right position and that's
what we expected to see last
year. 1 think they've got a lot 0
quicker corners this year
than last year This year
ft I L .?
11iey nan me speed to hantf
with us deep."
St'e THOMAS, 10