South Carolina Football: 3 Takeaways from Season Finale Loss to Kentucky
2. Kentucky’s Offense Dominated the First Half
South Carolina football had the first opportunity to put points on the board and did so when Shi Smith took the ball into the endzone, but the points were taken off of the board due to an offensive holding penalty. The Gamecocks finished their opening drive with a missed 38-yard field goal attempt.
Kentucky put the first points up in their opening drive with a 22-yard field goal kick by Matt Ruffolo. The Wildcats offensive line found themselves back on the field less than a minute later when South Carolina fumbled the ball and Kent Jordan Wright recovered it, giving possession back to the Wildcats.
In turn, the Wildcats capitalized on the turnover after Asim Ross Jr took the ball to the one-yard line in the first play of the drive and Chris Rodriguez Jr. carried it into the endzone in the next play.
Dakereon Joyner opened the next Gamecocks possession with a 52-yard return on the punt. Parker White put up South Carolina’s first points when he kicked a field goal from 47 yards out. Kentucky had a seven-point lead, 10-3 with just over two and a half minutes left in the first quarter, and would remain true to end the quarter.
Things didn’t get any better for South Carolina in the second quarter. The offensive line was unable to put any points on the board and the defensive line couldn’t stop Kentucky from reaching the endzone. Both teams traded downs in their first drives and Kentucky put the first points up in the second half when Rose rushed the ball eight yards for the touchdown, 17-3.
In the next two South Carolina drives the Gamecocks turned the ball over to the Wildcats. First when Yusuf intercepted a pass from Luke Doty, and then again when Doty fumbled the ball and Jordan Wright recovered it.
Kentucky wasn’t able to capitalize on the interception, but on its following drive, the Wildcats put another touchdown up when Rodriguez took it two yards for the score. The Wildcats had a 21 point lead with three and a half minutes left in the first half and they took advantage of the turnover from the fumble with a 41-yard field goal kick. Kentucky went into halftime on top, 27-3.