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South Carolina Football: Gamecocks toast Zips in season finale

By Matthew Bartlett

COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 27: Jake Bentley #19 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drops back to pass against the Tennessee Volunteers during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SC - OCTOBER 27: Jake Bentley #19 of the South Carolina Gamecocks drops back to pass against the Tennessee Volunteers during their game at Williams-Brice Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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South Carolina football ended their regular season during championship week with a makeup game against Akron, beating the Zips with ease.

Deebo Samuel scored first, then he scored again, and again. The star wide receiver accounted for three touchdowns in the Gamecocks’ lopsided win over Akron in Week 14. A senior an NFL draft hopeful, Samuel has yet to comment publicly on whether or not he’ll play in South Carolina’s bowl game. If this is indeed his last game in garnet and black he couldn’t have gone out with a better finish.

He made the best of four receptions, racking up 33 yards and two touchdowns. He added another touchdown on a muffed punt by Akron midway through the second quarter, outracing both teams to secure the fumbled ball in the endzone.

Quarterback Jake Bentley was far from spectacular, throwing a pair of interceptions and failing to surpass 200 yards through the air in the win. Luckily for him, the margin for error was much wider against Akron than it was in their prior game against the likely College Football Playoff-bound Clemson Tigers.

Buoying a decent offensive output was a strong showing from the Gamecocks’ defense. They held Akron to four third down conversions and stuffed the Zips on each of their three fourth down attempts. Akron never got anything going on the ground, averaging 2.0 yards per carry and tallying 82 yards rushing. South Carolina won the turnover battle 4-3.

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South Carolina will now await their bowl destination. This team had New Year’s Six aspirations in the preseason and was expected to give Georgia a fight for the SEC East. Those hopes never materialized, but the Gamecocks’ managed to do just enough to secure their third consecutive trip to the postseason.