Furman a quick fix for South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. — This was a victory Steve Spurrier wasn’t about to downgrade.

Mike Davis rushed for two touchdowns and Dylan Thompson threw for two scores in South Carolina’s 41-10 victory over FCS opponent Furman on Saturday that ended the Gamecocks’ two-game losing streak.

“I know it wasn’t pretty, but when you haven’t won in about a month it feels good to win,” Spurrier said.

That was a far different attitude than a month ago when an angry and disgusted Spurrier took apart his team after a 48-34 victory at Vanderbilt when the Gamecocks allowed two kickoff-return touchdowns and didn’t put away the Commodores until late.

But that was back when South Carolina (4-3) was still in the thick of the SEC East race, something that all but slipped away the following two weeks with fourth- quarter collapses against Missouri and Kentucky.

It moved Spurrier to 51-0 all-time against teams outside the Power 5 conferences or BCS-qualifying leagues.

Davis finished with 111 yards and first-half touchdown runs of 5 and 2 yards. Backups David Williams had 110 yards and Shon Carson 85 as the Gamecocks took control on the ground. It was the first time in seven years South Carolina had two runners with more than 100 yards.

“Really proud of the team,” Spurrier said. “We got a win.”

Things will be more difficult next week when the Gamecocks return to SEC play at No. 6 Auburn. South Carolina was picked this summer as the preseason favorite in the East, and this game figured to be a top-10 showdown when the year began.

Despite the losses, Davis said the players will be ready to compete.

“I think we have a big chance against anybody,” said Davis, who had more than 100 yards for a third consecutive game. “We’re not going to doubt ourselves.”

The Paladins (2-5), the defending Southern Conference champions, have lost five consecutive.

Thompson completed 14 of 22 passes for 262 yards, his highest total in four games since passing for 271 yards in a 38-35 victory over Georgia on Sept. 13.

Hank McCloud had 106 yards rushing for Furman, including its lone touchdown as he outran South Carolina’s defenders on a 60-yard burst. The Paladins managed just a Hunter Townes’ 29-yard field goal the rest of the way.

LSU 41, KENTUCKY 3

BATON ROUGE — Terrence Magee amassed a career-high 220 all-purpose yards and rushed for two touchdowns and Tre’Davious White scored on a 67-yard punt return as LSU (6-2, 2-2 SEC) routed Kentucky (5-2, 2-2).

Travin Dural caught a 32- yard touchdown pass from Anthony Jennings and Leonard Fournette added a short scoring run for the Tigers, who raced out to a 27-3 halftime lead en route to becoming bowl eligible for a school-record 15th consecutive year.

The Wildcats came to LSU in the thick of the SEC East race, only to be handed their fourth lopsided loss in as many trips to Death Valley since 2000.

Kentucky also saw freshman running back Stanley Williams, their all- purpose yards leader, knocked from the game on a helmet-to-helmet hit during a kickoff return.

Magee’s night included a season-high 127 yards rushing, 44 yards receiving and 49 yards on kickoff returns. His touchdowns came on second-half runs of 9 and 23 yards.

The Tigers ran the ball 51 times for 303 yards and outgained the Wildcats 423-217. Jennings attempted only 14 passes, completing 7 for 120 yards, and did not turn the ball over.