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use beats By JOHN MILLS III Staff writer BLACKSBURG, Va. ? Zero yards rushing, five interceptions and one offensive touchdown forced the Gamecocks to struggle to a 26-24 victory over the Virgina Tech Hokie? Saturday. The Gamecocks, now 6-0, outscored the Hokies in total yards 263-217, but the ITokies outrushed the Gamecocks 74-0. The Gamecocks ran the ball 27 times for zero yards. USC quarterback Todd Ellis, who did not speak to reporters atter sintering a mna concussion auring the game, completed only 22 of 53 passes tor 272 yards. He threw five interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns. Backup quarterback Dickie DeMasi completed one of two for -9 yards. "We dug ourselves a hole, and we finally fought back out of it," USC head coach Joe Morrison said. In the first quarter, the Gamecocks drove to the Hokies' 6- yard-line after a 17-yard pass to Carl Piatt and a 31-yard reception by George Rush. Collin Mackie then hit a 24-yard field goal to put the Gamecocks up 3-0. Hokies quarterback Will Furrer passed easily, throwing for more than 13 yards each play as the Hokies drove to the USC 30, where the Gamecocks were called for a personal foul, a 15-yard penalty. The next play, Furrer ran to the left, looked back over his shoulder and threw a screen pass to tight end Brian McCaii, who took the ball 15 yards for the touchdown. At the end of the first quarter, the Hokies led 7-3. The Gamecocks were deficient in rushing as they carried the ball four times for three yards. Ellis threw several wild passes in the second . * ^Hi I'%/ WwM&h ,'fyvs * W$k '''1"<$ 1 K! | Alex Sum Unr ? Hokies des quarter, placing the Gamecocks' drive in jeopardy. Then, with 7:08 to go in the half, Ellis connected with Mike Dingle for a 53-yard*touchdown. Robert Robinson intercepted a Fui rer pass at the USC 38 with 5 21 left to play in the second quarter. But, due to overthrown Ellis passes, the Gamecocks could not advance the ball and had to punt. With 2:17 left , the Hokies' Robert Brown intercepted an Ellis pass and ran 47 yards for a touchdown. This was the first time in eight years that a touchdown had been scored against the Gamecocks because of an interception. jlist 53 icconcis later, it nappeuea again. Leslie Baily intercepted an Eiiis pass and carried it 19 yards for a touchdown, giving Virginia Tech a 21-10 lead. Ellis came back with completions. The Gamecocks were first and goal at the Hokies' 8-yard-line witn 12 seconds left in the half. Ellis launched a pass out of the far side of the end zone, a pass sailed wide of Harold Green's grasp, and on thud down with three seconds to go, Mackie's attempt at a 24-yard field goal flew wide to the left. After the first half, the Hokies led 21-10. The Gamecocks Jed in total yards 184-151, even though USC ran the ball 11 times for -1 yards Robert Brooks caught the second-hall kickoff ana ran 98 yards for a touchdown cutting the Hokies lead to 21-17. The Gamecocks were called fcr having too many men on the field, a 15-ya;d penalty, when the Hokies were punting. Then another 15-yard penalty was issued against the Gamecocks for facemask ing. That put the Hokies at the USC 35. Kinzer kicked a 43-yard field goal, and the ui wasrit rub it in [just v tddie to kn the score ol List night 's g M ^9^ ^ L K' 1 lf||||!||| AL ., fj I It. % ^ v 99 li^M J9 1 :"i^r Jf Jrm I^H li^KW '' jKg' ^ 9BMRH^^S^E^^iy9|9P^ ?\ w j?j&: B ^^Brai " 51831 Bf-'" ^1 BH q^Bp: /f$H 1 I mm |fl K mfk I W bI H pM *mK^^,,~^ y , "'^BBBP T^ ^^ '< .5IHP yersityof Washington- Class muaji^ - ""rftiiiiiiaTiriiiiiilMBiBgMMBBBMV *JBI T m pite errors Hokies led 24-17. With 5:56 left in the third quarter, Mitch Dove intercepted an Ellis nass hut the Hnkies were unable to advance Gamecock free safety Ron Rabune recovered a Phil Bryant fumble at the Hokies' 39. The Gamecocks then advanced to the 11-yard- line but could not score because passes were out of recei ,-ers' reach Mackie proceeded to hit a 28-yard field goal, and with 13:39 left in the game, the Gamecocks were down 24-20. In the next Gamecock series, three receivers missed Ellis tosses, two of them getting hit in the face by the passes. USC, however, was able to move the ball, and Mackie kicked a 50-yard field goal to bring the Gamecocks to within one, 24-23. Baily then intercepted another Ellis pass and ran 14 yards to the Hokies' 46; however, they were forced to punt. The snap sailed over the head of punter Kelly Fitzgerald. He picked up the ball and attempted the kick. It was blocked, and Tim High recovered the ball on the Hokies' 6-yard-line. The Gamecocks then ran three plays which produced a total of three yards and with 6:43 left in the game, Mackie nailed a 23-yard field goal putting the Gamecocks in the lead 26-24. "We knew we could win coming in at halftime. We jutf had to prove it in the second half," defensive end Kevin Hendrix said. He said he was pleased with the defensive performance in the second half "I thought wc played well at some times, but we just came up with the big play a lot." The Gamecocks' next game will be against Georgia Tech in Atlanta next week. bing ranted ow 7 7 jum" I Go ahead an( _.1_ ^ : 11 ^1 Iiud li ui an u le wa with AT&T Long C Besides, your best was the one who i could never win tl So give him a lot less than you tl know who's heade Reach out and tou Ifyoudliketoknc XI&T products an< International Callii Card, call us at 1 8 p ^ wt ^2^0 ^sajHEHB w? 1H ^^Hkl >?' 4^ ^ " ' ' y y ' v : "7 * - T kl*'* JULIE BOUCHILLON/The Gamecock USC sophomor" wide receiver Carl Piatt gets wrapped up by a Virginia Tech defender. The Gamecocks squeaked by the Hokies Saturday, 26-24, in their first road game of fhe season. soccer beats Tigers By RICHARD W. ROWELL Staff writer As 2001 played, the Gamecock sector team came out fired up and 1 *. "KT ? 1 -S i^1 ^ 1 ucdi inu. u v^iemson z-i in an intense match at The Graveyard yesterday. Head coach Mark Berson described the game as "a typical ClemsonCarolina match." "The games always come down to the wiie, and both teams are always well prepared both emotionally and physically," Berson said. The overflow crowd of more than 5,100 were not let down as USC scored both goals within one minute of each other. The first goal came at the 11:49 mark of the first half. Quinton Fraai of Clemson fouled a USC forward giving the Gamecocks a free kick. Craig Hartman tapped the ball to Grenville Pope who kicked the ball around the Tiger defenders and into the open net. "The keeper lined up on the wrong side of the goaf" said Pope. "So I curled it (the ball) around the wall and into the open net." Fifty-seven seconds later, the gamecocks struck again when Pope scored his second goal of the match, giving him five for the season. Pat Walsh set up the goal by sending a cross to Pope. Pope then beat the Tiger goalkeeper to the ball and pushed it past him. into the open net. Clemson had a chance to score in the first half on a long cross from the right wing. A Tiger foward got a head on it, but Gamecock goalkeeper Charles Arrrdt made the save. The score at the end of the first half was USC 2, Clemson 0. The second half turned out to be physical as Clemson was fighting to j gioat. Ifbll Can catch up. They closed the gap with a Y . goal 11 minutes into the second half, y tO Lnicago Edo Boonstoppel crossed the ball to listance Service. Pcarse Tonney who put it past Arndt c. i t-. ij- for Clemson U only goai. mena E&Clie Both teams had 13 shots on goal Said VOUf team during the match. USC recorded five ' . i saves- Clemson recorded three. A Atee Straignt. total 01 37 fouis committed; 22 , call It COStS a Clemson, 15 by USC. Also, two . , 1 1 . yellow cards were given: one to each unk to let him ;eam. d for the Playoffs. "Getting the two (goals) so quickly ^ created a situation where Clemson ICll someone. Was able to come back and throw , everything but the kitchen sink at us )W mote about because they didn't have anvthine to j c^rxrirpc likp lose," said Berson. "That is a difju rir ficult situation to defend... but lg cUlCl the Al&l credit our players for a total team effifl 99? frtflf) f?rt and playing with a lot of intensiUU LLL-VJW- ty from start tQ finish ? "It was a gloryifing win," said Arndt. "The crowd reaily helped. It was impossible for us to let down for one second because we knew those ^ guys were behind us. If we could 3^ have a crowd like that every game it would be impossible for us to lose at home." mm USC improved its record to 9-2-1 v and extended its home winning streak to 7. With the loss Clemson falls to &IT 7-3*2IHI USC nexts plays at home Wednes. r day against The Citadel at 3 p.m. choice. $Jast from $ast The Best of the Oldies from 6 to 9 PM Every Wednesday Only on WliSC-FM 90.5