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10 _ , _ THE GAMECOCK ♦ Monday, April 19,2004 - 0 , , . . Game.Schedule SOFTBALL vs. Furman, 5 p.m. Wednesday BASEBALL vs. The Citadel, 7 p.m. Wednesday Pnntact MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TRACK at Penn Relays V->Ul I LCiLL. UOj in Philadelphia, Friday Story ideas? Questions? Comments? EQUESTRIAN at Varsity Equestrian Championships E-mail us at gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu' in Conyers, Ga., Saturday i • Spring.Game Football takes first spring exam Offense struggles for catches, tests quarterback possibilities BY WES WOLFE THE GAMECOCK The first- and second-string of fense for the USC football team, while admittedly running a bland offense, couldn’t produce much in the Spring Game Saturday, leav ing the final as a 13-13 tie. “We didn’t make enough big plays,” USC head coach Lou Holtz said. “We’re 1-on-l with the ball, and we don’t go up and get it or ever come down with it. I mean, it’s 1-on-l. There was some throws that were very, very, very catchable, and not one time did we come down with it, and that’s disap pointing.” Several times from USC quar terbacks, long passes either went over the head of the receiver or the intended targets dropped the nasses. Svvelle Newton, still the presump tive backup, was the only quarterback to connect on long passes. Newton 1_.1 _ J_1_,v ucaucu up uuui the first- and second-string of fenses at different times and went a combined 16-of-27 passing for a • team-leading 277 yards and two touchdowns. One long pass was a 50-yard bomb to Ike Crofoot, a long snapper that lined up at wide receiver. Newton also had a 70 yard touchdown pass to wide-out Noah Whiteside with 46 seconds left in the “Dondrial’s the starting quarterback. We’ll go into the fall camp and we’ll see.” LOU HOLTZ use HEAD FOOTBALL COACH game. Ironically, the two plays came within a minute of each other, with Newton taking over for the lllOl loum VJ1 fense after taking the second team offense to the promised land. Newton also was the leading rusher for both offenses, running ♦ OFFENSE, SEE PAGE 11 Defense eases off-season fears BY WES WOLFE THE GAMECOCK The USC defense held up its end of the bargain in Saturday’s Spring Game, picking off four passes, forcing two fumbles and generally making life miserable for the Carolina-offense. USC head coach Lou Holtz was especially happy with the effort out of the secondary. “They showed aggressiveness,” Holtz said. “I think that they’re supporting well, they’re hitting well, they’re tackling well. And I think that Joseph, Bennett, had an excellent spring. And Jonathan Joseph is really — he’s got great quickness, and Bennett has just been very solid.” Joseph had one tackle and two pass break-ups on the day, while Fred Bennett had one tackle for loss and one pass break-up. The two defensive stars for Carolina were converted defen sive back Andre Hemphill and linebacker Marcus Lawrence. Lawrence had five solo tackles and one interception on the day. The Aiken native got his inter ception off a pass from quarter back Syvelle Newton at the begin ning of the second quarter, re turning the ball 14 yards to the 14 yard line. The good field position turned out to be a bust, however, as the offense was unable to score on the following possession. Hemphill, who saw action at wide receiver and special teams last season, had four solo tackles and one assisted tackle, including one tackle for a loss of three yards. The junior also had an intercep tion in the game, picking off a pass by Newton and taking the ball 38 yards to the opposing team’s 28 yard line. This fortuitous interception did not produce points either, as quar ♦ DEFENSE, SEE PAGE 11 Newton proves starting power Since last week’s column, I have received numerous praises and criticisms by proclaiming that Dondrial Pinkins should not be the quarterback in 2004. Opponents of the column claim I was being un fair to Dondrial, that I should support my uni versity regard less, that I had not seen a spring practice to see Dondrial’s improvement and that Pinkins ® is obviously the SINCUIR best quarter- Graduate , . student m the back at USC. College of Looking Education back, the only thing I would have done different ly in my column is name who should be the starting quarter back. However, the USC spring football game Saturday appears to have answered the question. While it was only the Spring Game, Syvelle Newton turned heads. Newton started out with the second team offense, Team Gamecocks. Newton led Team Gamecocks to an early 6-0 lead. Meanwhile, Pinkins continued his struggles, only managing four completions and 35 yards passing before Newton was given a chance with Team Carolina, better known as the first-string offense. Newton made the most of his opportunity. Newton was 10-for-19 with 186 yards passing and two touchdown passes. While Newton did make some mistakes (two in terceptions), his performance demonstrates his ability to lead a team and make it more produc tive. Team Carolina was getting flat-out embarrassed before Newton took over the offense. Syvelle Newton was not only the leading passer for both sides, but the leading rusher as well. To those critical of last week’s column about Pinkins, allow me to respond. First of all, acknowl edging that the quarterback situ ation needs improvement does not make you more or less of a “true” Gamecock fan. I have been to Williams-Brice every fall since 1988, and I want to see USC suc ceed just as much as anyone else. I never wrote a column claiming that Lou Holtz should be fired, even though a Web site exists claiming this. In fact, I believe the Gamecocks are more talented at every position under Lou Holtz than I can ever remember — that is, every position except quarter back. The people who make the “true ♦ SINCLAIR, SEE PAGE 11 ■ 11i \j d i ivi«nr\ ouniluiinvj/ i nc o«ivii_v^v_/or\ Wide receiver Troy Williamson dives for an overthrown ball In USC’s Spring Game Saturday. Williamson had one catch on the day for 33 yards. The two squads tied at 13-13. PHOTO BY MARK SCHILLING/THE GAMECOCK Quarterback Syvelle Newton is tackled by linebacker Lance Laury and another Gamecock during the Spring Game. Laury had four tackles and one forced fumble In the game. Kentucky upsets USC in weekend drubbing BY JONATHAN HILLYARD THE GAMECOCK The USC baseball team (26-10,7 8 SEC) experienced a new feeling when its bats went cold this week end and it dropped two games of a three-game series to the Kentucky Wildcats (19-16,5-10). The Wildcat offense did enough to win. Kentucky knocked around USC starter Billy Buckner for eight hits and five runs through six innings. Highlights for the bats of Kentucky included a three-run third inning. The 5-1 lead was enough for UK to be able to hold on as it withstood a Powell home run to win the game, 6-3. Stanley and Matt Scott was able to do enough to hold on to the victory. Scott Relieved Stanley in the fifth inning and did not allow a USC hit for the remainder of the game. The Wildcats scored in spurts as they did Friday, recording a five-run third inning and a three run fifth inning to put the game away. UK 6, USC 3 With the exception of Landon Powell, Kentucky pitcher Kalen Gibson steamrolled through the Carolina lineup Friday, pitching a complete game for the Wildcats. The Gamecocks managed only four hits against Gibson through nine innings, their lowest hit to tal of the season. Gibson’s win im proved him to 4-1 on the season. Powell was one of only four bat ters to record a hit in the game, as he connected on a fastball in the sixth inning for a two-run homer. The bomb was his llthjof the sea son, six of which have come against pitchers in the SEC. UK 11, USC 6 Game two saw the Carolina pitching staff continue its recent struggles as Kentucky scored 11 runs to claim an 11-6 win. Gamecock ace Matt Campbell only made it through four innings of work before being pulled after giv ing up nine runs on eight hits. The loss dropped Campbell to .5-2 on the season. In a mimic of game one, Powell was the offensive star for USC, go ing 3-for-3 with an RBI. However, he was the only Carolina player to record more than one hit as the Kentucky pitching duo of Seth USC 5, UK 3 Despite once again managing only four hits, the Gamecocks managed to get back in the win column Sunday against the Wildcats, taking the game 5-3. USC starter Aaron Rawl al lowed the first five UK hitters to reach base, and it looked like it could be another long day for the struggling Gamecocks. However, after a three-run first inning, Rawl settled down and threw five and two-thirds scoreless innings to get the win for Carolina, raising his ♦ BASEBALL, SEE PAGE 11 PHOTO BY MARK SCHILLING/THE GAMECOCK Designated hitter Ryan Mahoney swings at a pitch In USC’s game against Clemson April 14. Mahoney had two hits in the weekend series with Kentucky. Carolina lost the series 2-1.