The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 28, 1984, Page Page 13, Image 13
THE GAMECOCK Sports November 28, 1984 ? Page 13
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liator Bowl-bout
Carolina ends fi\
By Tracy Mixson
CLEMSON ?Capping off their almost dream-like season,
USC's football players did Saturday what some people said
couldn't be done ? they unseated arch-rival Clemson at
Death Valley, 22-21.
The victory ? Carolina's first in Memorial Stadium since
1970 ? lifted the school's final regular-season record to 10-1
for its best mark ever.
It also assured the Gamecocks their first post-season bowl
appearance in four years. USC will travel to Jacksonville,
Fla., Dec. 28 to play in the annual Gator Bowl classic.
THE LOSS was the first at home for the Tiger seniors, who
watched their 25-game winning streak at Death Valley come to
an end. In addition, Clemson lost for the first time in its
famous all-orange uniforms, after 10 victories in the colorful
garb.
The quick thinking (and scrambling) of USC quarterback
Mike Hold led to the Tigers' downfall. While the quarterback
had a mediocre day in the air (six for 24 for 112 yards), his
75-yard rushing performance more than made up for his passing
performance.
USC head coach Joe Morrison had employed a twoquarterback
system all season, with Allen Mitchell in the starting
slot and Hold in reserve.
He explained this system by saying, 4,If it ain't broke, don't
fix it." But after the Gamecocks' 38-21 loss to Navy last week,
the coach felt a change was in order, and tabbed Hold to start.
THE GAMECOCKS started slowly, trailing 21-3 at one
point in the second quarter. But USC battled back to cut the
lead at halftime, 21-10, and then shut down the Tiger offense
for the final 30 minutes.
In the third quarter, USC defensive end Tony Guyton sacked
Clemson quarterback Mike Eppley in the end zone resulting
in a safety for the Gamecocks. Carolina then staged its comeback
in the final period, scoring on Scott Hagler's 41-yard
field goal at 7:19.
After USC's "Fire Ant" defense forced a Clemson punt,
the Gamecocks took the ball at their own 16-yard line, and
runs bv Hold. Thomas Denrlv and Ouintnn I pwis l*?rl I
downfield.
Hold's one-yard dash into the endzone with 54 seconds remaining
capped off Carolina's 84-yard scoring drive. Hagler's
extra point, his 43rd straight for a school record, put USC up
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Up for grabs ,
USC's Mike Brittain, linwood Moye and Augusta College s Bill Kev
! 77-52 victory. The Gamecocks face Towson State Saturday at /
nd
/e-year drought witi
22-21 and ended the probation-plagued Tigers' hopes for a
"Pride Bowl" victory.
"THIS WAS just a great, great win and it really shows the
character of our football team," Morrison said. "The
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Clemson taiback Kenny Flowers is tackled by USC linebacker James
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"I was a little nervous," Ja
t>to4a kv m fa!* "That's automatic coming out
and playing in your first collei
v go up for a rebound in Carolina's Carolina started slow, see
10. points in the first ten minutes.
b 22-21 victory
character of this team has shown through all year long.
"I told our young men this was what college football is all
about and I felt this would be quite an experience. It was. The
big thing is, our kids never quit."
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Photo by Mary Ann Nofci
Seawright. The Gamecocks defeated the Tigers 22-21 at Memorial
:ks open season
i over Jaguars
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muuicu mis 10 me jaguars.
:>n win and the "You have to give Augusta a lot of
oment. Think credit," Foster said. "We had some turnovers,
but they came out and played their
SC opened its game.
t with a 77-52 "I THINK we were a part of it and I think
before a crowd they were a part of it. From that standpoint,
l. I think it's good to have this game over
Dster used 13 with."
jainecock saw The Gamecocks took their first lead at
ing time. 14-13 on Michael Foster's two free throws
with 7:50 remaining in the half.
titive," Foster "In the first seven or eight minutes we let
>le makes prac- them run their flex offense," coach Foster
said. "A flex offense is based on good cutributes
it keeps ting, timing and rhythm. We let them have
their rhythm and they ran it very well.
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>le they had to took them out of their offense with an agtrouble
helped gressive defense.
iroughout the WE IMPROVED our defensive intensity
from the Marathon Oil Game and that's an
e game with a encouraging sign."
he first half to "I thought we were better prepared to play
o intermission. tonight," Vanover said. "Against Western
Kentucky we were very nervous and
h James show- tentative.
inking abilities "South Carolina's pressure with the halfraduate
scored court trap and the switches on defense really
its during the confused our kids and kept us from scoring
during that long period in the first half."
is that I hit my USC came out in the second half and nearnative
said. "I ly squandered away their 11-point lead when
?s me. Jaguar guard Eric Rddgers hit a layup with
I drive to the 16:18 to close the gap to seven points, 39-32.
c I'll take the
BUT TWO quick baskets by Carolina
h a game-high center Mike Brittain and James extended the
issists and two 'ea<* t0 eleven, and the Gamecocks
never looked backed as they coasted to a
25-point win.
es played a lit- Coach Foster said a key to the victory was
the play of guard Michael Foster,
mes admitted. thought that Michael Foster's leaderof
high school shiP and defense really helped us," the coach
ge game." sa'^* <<He's had nine assists in the last two
>ring only 11 games, and that shows how unselfish he realbut
Foster at- *s-"