S. Carolina pulls off another stunner

Some teams would been content with a season- defining win over top- 10 Tennessee. Not South Carolina and certainly not Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler.

South Carolina followed up its 63- 38 stunner over the Vols last week with a 31- 30 victory over No. 7 Clemson on Saturday, ending the title chances of another College Football Playoff contender for a second straight week.

“We wanted more. We knew this was the biggest game of the season for us,” said Rattler, who passed for 360 yards and two touchdowns. “These last two games will change the narrative for program history.”

Saturday’s game certainly turned a one- sided rivalry on its ear. South Carolina has played in the shadow of two- time national champion Clemson the past nine years, losing the past seven against the Tigers ( 10- 2, 8- 0 ACC), who had been on a 40game home winning streak.

But the Gamecocks ( 8- 4, 4- 4 SEC) rallied from 14- 0 down after 10 minutes to beat Clemson for the first time since 2013.

“Where’s my trophy? Where’s my trophy?” cornerback Cam Smith shouted of the silver- colored “Palmetto Bowl” honor that’s finally coming back to Columbia.

South Carolina and Rattler, who threw for 438 yards and six touchdowns against Tennessee, ended any chance Clemson had at a playoff berth.

“We were the feel- good story in college football last week, but nobody thought we were good enough to win this game,” Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer said.

Antwane Wells Jr. had nine catches for 131 yards, including touchdowns of 4 and 72 yards.