South Carolina Football: 3 takeaways from “Mayor’s Cup” loss to Missouri

1. Both defenses stepped up

The Tigers’ defense kept the Gamecocks from converting four third-down and one-fourth down attempts in the first quarter. Missouri ended South Carolina’s third drive when Martez Manuel sacked Collin Hill for a loss of seven yards on the third-and-4.

Manuel sacked Hill again with partial credit given to Devin Nicholson as well in the next South Carolina drive. Missouri’s defensive line took advantage of Smith’s absence and the lack of pass protection for Hill.

South Carolina’s defense, depleted due to injuries and players who left the team following Will Muschamp’s departure, managed to hold Missouri to just one touchdown in the first quarter.

The Missouri defense, which is also severely depleted because of COVID-19 cases and injuries, didn’t let the Gamecocks get any points in the first quarter.

South Carolina had a monumental stop in Missouri’s second drive of the quarter when Cam Smith intercepted the ball causing an early turnover but failed to convert on the interception in their next drive. South Carolina allowed Missouri to put two touchdowns on the board and held them to a field goal in the last drive of the first half.

South Carolina held Missouri to a three and out in their opening drive and then in the second drive, Kinglsey Enagbare sacked Connor Bazelak, effectively putting an end to that drive. Enagbare leads the SEC with six sacks on the season.

The Gamecocks’ defense must have found its mojo and determination during halftime because they didn’t allow the Tigers to put any points up in the entire second half of the game. Both sides of the ball actually found some motivation in the locker room at halftime, but South Carolina just couldn’t reach the finish line, despite the better effort in the second half of the game.