RALEIGH -- After months of talking about new coaches, new players and new ideas, South Carolina's offense didn't exactly
emerge as a juggernaut in 2009.
But the Gamecocks are still getting away with leaning on their defense every now and again. Especially against North Carolina
State in these ESPN openers.
The Wolfpack hasn't scored a touchdown in eight quarters and counting against USC, and a first-quarter score held up for
the Gamecocks in a 7-3 victory Thursday night before 57,583 fans at Carter-Finley Stadium.
"We're very thankful," said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, now 4-0 in ESPN Thursday night season openers, including
two in a row against N.C. State. "We gave the defense a big ovation. We realize they won the game for us."
No, this wasn't pretty. Not at all. But South Carolina is still 1-0 moving into Georgia week.
"It's a win," Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia said, "and we'll take it."
The Gamecocks (1-0) managed a so-so 256 yards, but couldn't seem to figure out a way to score.
Even the only touchdown of the game, for either team, was set up by the South Carolina defense.
On N.C. State's first offensive play, USC redshirt freshman defensive end Devin Taylor stuck in a paw in to strip Toney
Baker. Darian Stewart pounced on the ball at the Wolfpack 14-yard line.
Four runs later from Brian Maddox, and the Gamecocks were up 7-0.
Then came the rest of the plodding game, driven by a field-position chess match.
The Gamecocks called check several times, but couldn't scream checkmate until Garcia found Moe Brown for a 33-yard completion
on third-and-3 at the USC 40. The play, with 2:40 to go, kept the chains and clock moving. It was South Carolina's longest
play from scrimmage all night.
The Gamecocks ran out the clock from there.
"Thank God he caught it," said Garcia, 13-for-22 for 148 yards with one interception. "I might've been kicked off the team
if I didn't complete that one."
As expected, young guys were all over the field for South Carolina. Especially for Ellis Johnson's defense.
Freshman cornerback Stephon Gilmore broke up a fourth-down heave from Russell Wilson with three minutes left to stop a
promising Wolfpack drive into USC territory.
In one-on-one coverage, Gilmore wrestled the ball away in the end zone from N.C. State's Jarvis Williams to save the day.
A depleted South Carolina line led the way in the defense's six sacks of Wilson. Eric Norwood and Cliff Matthews both had
a pair.
Matthews was scary fast around the end, catching the speedy Wilson from behind a couple of times.
"We've got athletes," Spurrier said. "We've got good players. We've said that all along."
The Gamecocks looked tired late in the game. But they refused to allow the Wolfpack into the end zone.
N.C. State got to the 36- and 32-yard lines on its final two drives, but failed to score a single point.
The Wolfpack (0-1) amassed only 133 total yards -- 59 on the ground.
"I guess that's pretty much standard protocol around here," Garcia said. "Our defense is incredible to hold them to three
points."
South Carolina had chance after chance to pad its seven-point lead. But it never could cash in.
Twice the Gamecocks flubbed field-goal tries.
The first, from 31 yards in the second quarter, was snuffed by a bad snap in the dirt from typically reliable C.D. Turner.
The second, from 27 yards midway through the third, was just a poor miss to the left by Spencer Lanning.
"We were fortunate to win that game. Very fortunate," special teams coach Shane Beamer said. "You can't leave points out
there. We talked about that in our special teams meeting (Wednesday) night. These early games, it usually comes down to special
teams."
Later, a line-drive, 29-yard punt by Lanning allowed for a 31-yard return to set the Pack up in great field position for
its final possession.
N.C. State finally mustered its first points in seven quarters against the Gamecocks, with a 43-yard field goal by Josh
Czajowski at the 55-second mark of the third.
Even that drive was set up by a Garcia interception, his first and only one of the game, and a Stewart pass interference
call.
Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/gamecocks.
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