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THi^AMECOCK SPORTS Page 10 B B ^L— - B— r^y Monday, Sept. 26,2005 SOUTH CAROLINA (2-2) 45 — TROY (1-3) 20 Juan BUs /THE (IAMECOCK USC defeated Troy 45-20 Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. The win snapped the Gamecocks’ two-game losing streak and delivered the anticipated Spurrier-era blowout many fans had been expecting. Troys 6fumbles lead Gamecocks to anticipated Spurrier-era rout filex Riley ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR USC fans were able to leave Williams-Brice on Saturday night breathing a little bit easier, as the Gamecock offense and defense finally put together the performance many had expected when Steve Spurrier was announced as coach, beating Troy, 45-20. Even though the scoreboard read blowout, Spurrier was quick to point out that the only team that truly kept Troy (1-3) out of the game was Troy. “Fortunately, they fumbled a lot,” Spurrier said. “If they hadn’t fumbled a lot, we’re in overtime. They fumbled a lot and gave us a chance to beat them.” The Trojans managed to fumble six times on the night, with four of those landing in the hands of Gamecocks (2 2). Fred Bennett also managed an interception, giving USC five forced turnovers. After USC opened the game with a three-and-out, the Trojans drove all the way down to the 11-yard line before Tremaine Tyler forced the first of his two fumbles on the night. That would set up USC’s offense, which after three straight runs on the first drive, took back to the air the second. Quarterback Blake Mitchell hit Sidney Rice on the first play for a 41-yard gain, putting USC just past midfield. Three plays later, Mitchell would hit Syvelle Newton for a 35-yard touchdown to put USC up, 7 0. Troy looked like it might respond to USC’s score as running back Joel Whingter ripped off a 39-yard gain, putting the Trojans back in USC territory. But Bennett s interception on the next play ended the threat of a score. The offense then put on a pumeies • 9 back Mike Davis, a 45 Points USC scored, a season s 1 Career IS7 Rushing yards by Troy 100 Yards Leodis McKelvin had in an NCAA Record tying kickoff return for a touchdown 6 Fumbles the Tppjm had 5 Total turnovers Troy gave USC, 4 fumbles and 1 intercepton Graphic Illustration by Laura-Joyce Gough /Tl IE fiAM ECOCK • J After lineup changes, new starters deliver much-needed revival flliquel Jacobs STAFF WRITER The roster shake-up included seven new starters for the Gamecocks against Troy, including five in key defensive positions. The result — Carolina’s best defensive performance of the season and the start of what could be season-long position battles . with the inspired play by the newcomers. “(The new starters) made some plays,” co-defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix said. “We’re looking for guys that play defense, go out there and play with great effort, and do it day in and day out. I hope they continue to work because we’re going to continue to play the guys that give us the best chance to win.” Un tins one Saturday nignt, the decision to allow more guys to participate on the field, coupled with the butterfingers ofTroy’s running backs, turned out to be just what USC needed to end its two-game losing streak. For the • first time this season, defensive backs Johnathan Joseph and Fred Bennett began the game on the bench, clearing the way for redshirt freshmen Stoney Woodson and senior Tremaine Tyler to make their first starts of the Steve Spurrier era. Sophomore Jordin Lindsey earned his first start at defensive end, while • coach Spurriers decision to remove Marvin Sapp’s redshirt allowed the true freshman to start at outside linebacker. Rounding out the defense was the decision to give senior Charles Silas the nod over Josh Johnson at the other end position. “It was definitely a message that the other guys we were KatieKirkUnd/TWY. (iAMRCOCK Sophomore Ryan Brown celebrates during Saturday’s game. playing weren’t getting it done,” Nix said. “Therefore, there had to be a change, and they responded positively. We went out and played better tonight.” The refreshing change on defense caused four fumble recoveries and one interception, as the defense had its best showing of the season in limiting Troy to 239 yards. Seniors Ricardo Hurley and Tyler each accounted for two forced fumbles, with junior Mike West also knocking a ball loose. Sophomores Chris Hampton and Ko Simpson each recovered one of the fumbles. Freshman Dakota Walker, playing in his first game of the season, also recovered one as did junior Brandon Isaac, who returned his for a touchdown after Hurley jarred the ball loose with a well-placed hit on the runner. “We were making big plays all night,” Hurley said. “I knew something was about to happen. I just read my guard and made the play.” Spurrier said Hurley’s five STARTERS • 9 Picking on little kids neverfelt so awesome USC’s victory undercut by Troy’s second-tier status in NCAA football I used to play basketball with a bunch of little kids at a summer camp. The opponents were all a foot ✓--x shorter than me, *■ and the baskets were only 8 feet high, so I felt like Shaq out there. . , — I’d block the jgj* shots of the kids who were talking Third-year trash, dribble the PoUtical length of the court, and dunk and hang on the rim screaming like I was the Kenyon Martin of 8-foot basketball. But then when uic game was over, i u icaiize mar although I just dominated a game and had fun, it was against kids half my age playing on a basket only I could reach. Soon enough I’d have to play people my size, and I would no longer have the height advantage. They wouldn’t care about my victory against little kids, and if they heard me bragging about it they’d give me the patented Mike Myers “did Kanye West really just say that” face. I guess that’s what it’s like to beat Troy. Even Spurrier said it when he described the season so far by saying “we beat the two little guys and lost to the two big guys.” Although we beat the little guys, it wasn’t as impressive as it probably should have been. I * ' { www. dailygamecock. com