Skai Moore saves South Carolina Gamecocks in opener

The South Carolina Gamecocks weren’t very good in their opener, but thanks to linebacker Skai Moore they were able to knock off the North Carolina Tar Heels.

There was a lot said about Steve Spurrier and whether the Head Ball Coach still had it or not after a disappointing 7-6 season last year after three straight 11-win seasons. However, you can’t deny Steve Spurrier is still as resourceful as ever and finds ways to win games.

More from SEC

• Most heartwarming social media reactions to Nick Chubb’s injury
• College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 3
• Biggest winners and losers from College Football Week 3
• Florida Football: 3 takeaways from important win over Tennessee
• #10 Alabama football: 3 takeaways from close road win against USF

South Carolina is 1-0 after beating North Carolina 17-13 despite 12-of-27 for 140 yards and one touchdown from the passing game with Connor Mitch making his first career start. The unquestioned player of the game for South Carolina and the primary reason they’re 1-0 despite not playing that great is linebacker Skai Moore who had an interception in the end zone in the first quarter and sealed the game with a second interception in the end zone with 3:29 remaining.

Moore was the team’s best defender last year with 93 tackles and three interceptions but he needed to step up this year under first-year coordinator Jon Hoke for this defense to be better than last year’s that couldn’t make enough stops.

On a night when the offense wasn’t clicking and the defense was prone to the big run by Elijah Hood, it was Moore who elevated his play in the moments that mattered most to steal a win in the opener. North Carolina lost that game just as much as South Carolina won it, but they made enough plays and made them in the clutch moments to suggest they could be closer to the 11-win team from years past vs. the 7-win team of last year.

If Moore doesn’t pick off the pass and the Gamecocks lose, you’d be hearing about how Spurrier is finished, he needs to retire and the South Carolina program was going to hit a precipitous downfall, but all of that can at least be put on the back burner for a few more weeks.

Next: 30 Greatest College Football Stadiums

More from Saturday Blitz

• Michigan State vs. Maryland: Location, time, prediction, and more
• ACC Power Rankings: Can #4 FSU overthrow Clemson at Death Valley East?
• Most heartwarming social media reactions to Nick Chubb’s injury
• Ranking college football’s top 10 quarterbacks after Week 3
• Things are going to get much darker for the Houston Cougars