Gamecocks Blast UAB, Lattimore Breaks TD Record and Shaw Lost Again

South Carolina Gamecocks running back Marcus Lattimore (21) rushes against the UAB Blazers in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. (Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE)

Once again, the South Carolina defense had to step in and spark the offense.

UAB was leading 3-0 in the first quarter and driving deep into Gamecock territory when senior safety DJ Swearinger picked off a pitch attempt by UAB quarterback Jonathan Perry, taking it 65-yards the other way to give USC a 7-3 lead.

Before that play, the Blazers were outgaining the Gamecocks 89-29 in total yards. After the momentum shifter, USC outgained UAB 472-178 the rest of the game, en route to a commanding 49-6 win.

This was by far the defense’s best game of the young season, as the Gamecocks sacked the Blazer’s quarterbacks six times and stopped them twice inside the South Carolina ten-yard line.

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As for the offense, junior quarterback Connor Shaw re-injured the same shoulder he hurt in the season opener at Vanderbilt. While previously reported to be just a deep bone bruise, Shaw now says he has a hairline fracture in the shoulder. According to head coach Steve Spurrier, he will be re-evaluated throughout the week.

Despite the loss of Shaw, sophomore Dylan Thompson once again came in the game and performed well, accounting for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).

Speaking of Spurrier, he reached 200 wins as a college head coach, the 22nd one to do so. Of course, he didn’t have much to say about the achievement, but instead focused on junior halfback Marcus Lattimore, who broke the school’s all-time touchdown record with a two-yard scoring run at the end of the first half.

The Gamecocks will now prepare for the Missouri Tigers, who come to Columbia still looking for their first SEC win. Gametime is set for 3:30 p.m. Saturday on CBS.

SEC Latest >> Video: Ole Miss freshman jukes shoes off Longhorns

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Video: Marcus Lattimore Breaks South Carolina TD Record

[ezjw url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31z3SJUicJE" ]

What do you think Gamedayrs?