Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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WOT T ijasi season was % DWAYNE MCLEMORE Sports Editor The Gamecock football team ended the 1996 season with a sweet and a sour taste in players' and fans' mouths. Without a doubt, the 34-31 victory over staterival Clemson was the sweetest way to end the regular season. The team's 6-5 record, however, left the team on the bubble to receive a bowl bid, which they didn't. Sour. The season did prove to be something the 1997 team can build on. The Gamecocks were fueled by sophomore quarterback Anthony Wright and senior tailback Duce Staley. And the team's much improved defense also lent to Carolina's success. Wifh Sfalw lnot tn crrarlnnfinn ftrn team will be looking to running backs Scott Moritz, Boo Williams and Troy Hamhrick to each help shoulder the load. And Wright, a junior, should be rearing to go in his second year at the helm of the offense. Only time will tell what the future holds for the Gamecocks on the gridiron. For now, flashback to the 1996 football season and take a game-by gauic luuiv. at ^aiumia in aibiuii. Sept. 7,1996, in Columbia ? South Carolina 33, Central Florida 14 The Gamecocks were holding their breath after the Golden Knights Former Gamecock wide receiver Corey Bi player. Bridges caught 28 passes in 1996 foi _SIH> mi i i DJ?MjMJ M > good for the Ga opened the game with a 63-yard touchdown drive. Carolina, however, responded with 23 unanswered points in the first and went on to win the game 33-14. Duce Staley rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns in the game. The game featured two firsts for Carolina. It was the first game in the newly expanded WilliamsBrice Stadium, with a record crowd of 76,411. It was also quarterback Anthony Wright's first career start. He finished the game throwing 1219 for 236 yards and a touchdown. Sept. 14,1996, in Columbia ? South Carolina 23, Georgia 14 USC would take a 160 lead on the Bulldogs in front of a new record crowd of82,950 and a national television audience. Georgia battled back and trailed 16-14 going into the final Quarter. But Carolina held on. sealing the game with an 84-yard drive that ended with a 1-yard run by Steve Mixon with 6:39 to go. Staley again led with 170 yards rushing, including a 51-yard touchdown. Wright passed for 224 yards and a score. Sept 21,1996, in Cohimbia?East Carolina 23, South Carolina 7. In what proved to be the "Rain Bowl" of 1996, East Carolina proved to be the nuisance everyone knew it could be. Heavy rains fell on the 79,806 that piled into Williams-Brice Stadium on a chilly September ?^ lilil 1 I ''in Ifck jMjlBPE^ 11%, ^fe# . :^M $ ^By^ * Special to The Gamecock 1 idges is taken down by a Mississippi State r 399 yards and three touchdowns. 1 RTS_ "LASH imecocks - will Saturday. And after leading 10-7 at halftime, the Pirates set sail and rolled to a 23-7 victory. Thilback Scott Harley set a then East Carolina record for rushing with 291 yards on 41 carries. Staley scored the Gamecocks' only touchdown. September 28,1996, in Columbia ? Mississippi State 14, South Carolina 10. The Gamecocks'woes continued, as they dropped another game to an opponent they knew they could beat. This time Mississippi State spoiled Carolina's home-field advantage, turning two of USCs three turnovers into all of its 14 points. Ihe game did feature some offensive highlights for the Gamecocks. Wright amassed 352 yards passing, including a short pass to Corey Bridges, which was turned into a 77-yard score. And Marcus Robinson caught five passes for 190 yards. Ending its four-game homestand with a 2-2 record was not how Carolina wanted to open 1996. October 5,1996, at Auburn, Ala. ? Auburn 28, South Carolina 24. The Gamecocks made it a close game against a 20th-ranked Auburn team that many had counted them out of before it began. Carolina actually controlled most of the game, gaining 387 total yards to the Tigers' 228. Wright accounted for 271 of those yards in passing. But again, it was a turnover that made the difference. A Gamecock fumble led to an Auburn score with 3:30 left to play. Carolina's final minute rally fell short. October 12,1996, at Lexington, Ky. ? South Carolina 25, Kentucky 14. Stale/s 193 yards and two touchdowns led die way to victory for the Gamecocks. Carolina, however, did find themselves down 14-3 at halftime, and hadn't come from behind to win since a 1994 win at LSU. But the defense held the Wildcats scoreless and to just 57 total yards in the second half. Staley's 58-yard score gave Carolina the lead for good, and a Bridges touchdown reception sealed the game. October 19,1996, in Columbia ? South Carolina 23, Arkansas 17. The Gamecocks prevailed in what would prove to be one of the closest contests of the season. Carolina led by only three going into the fourth quarter. But a Troy Hambrick score, and a lengthy, nine-minute drive ending with a Reed Morton field goal sent the Razorbacks packing. Staley led with 105 yards. October 26,1996, at Nashville, Tenn. South Carolina 27, Vanderbilt 0. The Carolina defense had its day in the spotlight, as it held the Pnmmn^nnoa fn nnlir QO fnfnl trnwlo UUliUllVAlUiCO \AJ UlliJ lUUli JOIUO. Staley would leave the game on the Gamecocks' second possession of the game, and wouldn't return. The second half consisted mostly of running plays, as Boo Williams racked up 110 yards, and Carolina threw a season-low nine passes. November 2,1996, in Columbia - Ifennessee 31, South Carolina 14. South Carolina lived up to their nickname, the Fighting Gamecocks, in this heated contest with the No. 6 Volunteers. Playing without the injured Staley, Carolina fought it out with Ifennessee going into the fourth - BACK 1997 be better? / J _ mmgm k^ . 4f | j^flL?fHp f I- i Ji/radfc iil* Jr * jC| I2j__. 4.^% 4 i n ll Special to The Gamecock Can USC be Cocky in 1997? Time will tell. quarter, with the Vols ahead 21-14. Tennessee pulled away in the fourth with a field goal and a 20-yard pass from Peyton Manning to Joey Kent with 2:08 to go. November 15,1996, at Gainesville, Fla. Florida 52, South Carolina 25. The Gamecocks held on to the possibility of an upset of the topranked Gators, trailing 35-22 going into the fourth. But 17 unanswered points in the final quarter satisfied the majority of the 85,701 fans in attendance, the largest crowd the Gamecocks would play in front of all season. iroy nambnck was solid tor the liamecocks with 120 yards rushing and a score. November 23,1996, at Clemson - South Carolina 34, Clemson 31. The Gamecocks prevailed in what would prove to be the closest, and most thrilling, game of the season. The annual contest for state bragging rights would go to Carolina, as Staley made a grand return, rushing for 133 yards and two touchdowns in his last game as a Gamecock. Hambrick again impressed fans with 135 yards and two scores. The real excitement came in the fourth quarter, with the score 17-13, Clemson. The Gamecocks exploded for 21 unanswered points, including a 75-yard dash from Hambrick for a touchdown and 34-17 lead. The Tigers then turned on the burners, clawing their way back to a 34-31 deficit. They would get a last second shot to send the game to overtime, lb the Carolina fans' delight, Matt Padgett's 37yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with six seconds to play.