South Carolina takes down UNC
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer anticipated getting a bucket of mayonnaise dumped over his head would be awful.
And yet, it was worse than he could have imagined. Beamer got hit in the back of the head by the cooler before 4 gallons of mayo cascaded over his face and down his shirt, capping the Gamecocks’ celebration after their 38-21 victory over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Thursday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“I got hammered in the back of the head from the cooler — and then came the mayo,” Beamer said. “I may have a concussion. It was awful.”
He changed his shirt for the postgame news conference, but joked, “I still have mayo in my pockets.”
But, for Beamer, it was all worth it to cap the season with a bowl win.
Jaheim Bell had five catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns for South Carolina (7-6), which rebounded nicely after it lost 30-0 to Clemson in its regular-season finale on Nov. 27. Kevin Harris added 169 yards rushing and a score.
Bell, a sophomore tight end, got free for a 69-yard touchdown reception from converted wide receiver Dakereon Joyner and hauled in a 66-yard TD catch from former graduate assistant coach Zeb Noland on South Carolina’s first two possessions. Juju McDowell added a 35-yard TD run in the second quarter as South Carolina averaged 11.6 yards per play while opening a 25-13 halftime lead.
“Everyone on offense was locked in and keyed into the details,” Bell said.
Sam Howell threw for 205 yards and a touchdown, and reserve running back British Brooks had a bowl record 63-yard touchdown run for the Tar Heels (6-7).
Howell, a projected first-round pick in the NFL draft, wouldn’t say if he plans to turn pro. After the game, he retreated to a corner of the field, spending time soaking in the moment of what could be his final college game.
“I have a decision to make,” he said, adding that it will involve a lot of prayer.
Howell made several impressive throws with his strong, accurate arm. But the junior quarterback spent most of the game under heavy duress playing behind an offensive line that struggled.
“We wanted to limit their explosive plays — and we wanted to make sure (Howell) didn’t get too many yards when he got out of the pocket,” South Carolina safety Jaylan Foster said.
South Carolina rushed for 301 yards, despite Tar Heels coach Mack Brown saying North Carolina’s game plan was to stop the run.
“You’re not going to win football games like that,” Brown said. “They ran it, we didn’t.”
Wolverines may be missing key DB: Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said Thursday that All-Big Ten defensive back Dax Hill wasn’t yet in Miami and was questionable to play in the Orange Bowl against No. 3 Georgia.
Harbaugh didn’t provide details of what kept Hill from traveling with the team nor what could keep him out of the College Football Playoff semifinal Friday night.
“He’s working through something right now,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll know more today.”
Hill is second on the team in tackles with 65 and has two interceptions for the second-ranked Wolverines (12-1).
QB Cade McNamara and offensive lineman Andrew Vastardis both declined comment about Hill’s availability.
Michigan boasts one of the best defenses in college football, ranking fourth among FBS teams in points per game allowed (16.08).