Field goal lifts Gamecocks over LA Tech

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Parker White kicked a 31-yard field goal with four seconds left to give South Carolina a 17-16 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

White danced around the field after his winning kick, waving to the crowd, eventually celebrating in the student section. It made sense for the freshman because it was the first field goal he has made in five tries.

And even after missing two kicks in last week's loss to Kentucky and two more in the first half Saturday, going oh-forhis career, South Carolina coach Will Muschamp told White in the locker room at halftime he

feeling the game would come down to him.

"He shot me a big smile right before it. He didn't say too much, but gave me a high-five," White said.

White saved South Carolina from an embarrassing loss. The Gamecocks (3-1) trailed 13-0 before a wild fourth quarter that saw South Carolina take a 14-13 lead and Louisiana Tech (2-2) answer with a 10-play, 84-yard drive that ended with what appeared to be the game winning 25-yard field goal by Jonathan Barnes with 55 seconds left.

But Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley scrambled for 21 yards on third-and-10 and instead of spiking the ball, with no timeouts, threw a 31-yard pass into three Bulldogs defenders that Bryan Edwards somehow caught with 7 seconds to go.

Bentley was 22-of34 for 295 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Ty'Son Williams ran 13 times for 95 yards after getting no carries for South Carolina in last week's loss to Kentucky.

A win is a win, South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said. But he said there is a lot to work on as the meat of the Southeastern Conference season looms.

"We all take the blame together — starting with me," Muschamp said.

J'Mar Smith was 23-of33 for 281 yards, a touchdown and an interception for Louisiana Tech. Teddy Veal caught 10 passes for 110 yards.

For Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz, it was another shot at a big win that slipped away. The Bulldogs led Arkansas midway through the fourth quarter last year before losing 21-20 and lost to Kansas State 39-33 in triple overtime in 2015.

"We've been close," Holtz said. "There's no moral victory in close."

Holtz is now 0-8 coaching against Southeastern Conference teams. Holtz was an assistant for his father, Lou, at South Carolina for six seasons and was initially promised the Gamecocks job when his dad retired. But South Carolina hired Steve Spurrier instead.

The Bulldogs host South Alabama on Saturday in their final non-conference game of the year.

The Gamecocks head to Texas A&M as they play six SEC games in a row.