Late stand retains Gamecocks’ victory

SOUTH CAROLINA 15, TENNESSEE 9

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — South Carolina made sure Tennessee’s apparent allergy to the end zone continued for one more week.

Parker White made all three of his field-goal attempts, including a tiebreaking 21-yarder with 5:17 remaining, and South Carolina produced a goal-line stand Saturday in the closing seconds of a 15-9 victory over the slumping Volunteers.

“That’s what we live for,” said South Carolina linebacker Skai Moore, who had nine tackles and one of the Gamecocks’ seven sacks. “We talk about [how] we love that pressure. We love being on the field last at the end of the game.”

This marks the second consecutive week the Gamecocks have won as an underdog. Last week, South Carolina’s defense scored three touchdowns in a 48-22 triumph over Arkansas.

South Carolina (5-2, 3-2) didn’t force any turnovers Saturday, but its defense came up big when it mattered most as the Gamecocks erased a 9-3 halftime deficit.

After being completely shut down the entire second half, Tennessee’s offense reached South Carolina’s 2-yard line with nine seconds left before Jarrett Guarantano threw three consecutive incompletions to close the game.

Tennessee (3-3, 0-3) also settled for field goals after having first-and-goal on two separate drives in the first half. The Vols haven’t scored a touchdown in their last 10 quarters.

“When you play good redzone defense, it’s going to give you a chance to win ballgames,” South Carolina Coach Will Muschamp said.

Muschamp, who coached Florida from 2011-14, owns a career record of 6-0 against Tennessee and a 4-0 mark against Vols Coach Butch Jones.

The Vols’ third loss in their last four games will turn up the pressure on Jones, who already was occupying one of the hottest seats in college football.

After White’s third field goal extended South Carolina’s lead to 15-9, Tennessee got the ball at its own 25 with 1:13 left and no timeouts.

Guarantano, making his first career start, threw a 39yard pass to Brandon Johnson and three completions to Marquez Callaway that got Tennessee to the South Carolina 5. A pass interference penalty gave the Vols first-and-goal at the 2.

On first down, Guarantano threw the ball away under pressure. With only four seconds left, Taylor Stallworth broke up a Guarantano pass at the line of scrimmage. That play somehow only took three seconds, giving Tennessee one more chance. The game ended when Guarantano couldn’t connect with Johnson in the right corner of the end zone.

All of Tennessee’s points came on Brent Cimaglia field goals from 29, 33 and 24 yards away. Cimaglia normally shares Tennessee’s kicking duties with Aaron Medley, but an illness prevented Medley from playing Saturday.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 35, BRIGHAM YOUNG 10

STARKVILLE, Miss. — Nick Fitzgerald had a hand in four touchdowns to lead Mississippi State to a victory over BYU.

Mississippi State (4-2) returned to form offensively after a bye week and two consecutive blowout losses on the road to ranked opponents. Executing Coach Dan Mullen’s balanced plan of attack, the Bulldogs had 306 rushing yards and Fitzgerald threw for 241 to cross the 500-yard mark in total offense for the third time this season.

BYU (1-6) intercepted two Fitzgerald passes in the end zone, both by Dayan Ghanwoloku, but could only convert one into points. The Cougars struggled offensively, finishing with 176 total yards and only eight first downs.