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Booger McFarland calls out South Carolina for late-game decision to allow game-winning TD

Danby: Daniel Hager3 hours agoDanielHagerOn3
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© Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images | © Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

No. 4 Alabama held off South Carolina‘s upset bid with a 29-22 victory Saturday night in Columbia.

The Gamecocks took a 22-14 lead with 10 minutes remaining in regulation, but the Crimson Tide rattled off 15 unanswered points to win their seventh consecutive game. With the game tied at 22 apiece with 34 seconds remaining, Germie Bernard found paydirt from 25 yards out to seal the win.

On Bernard’s run, it appeared as if South Carolina defensive back DQ Smith let him score in order for the Gamecocks to get the ball back with 34 seconds left. ESPN‘s Booger McFarland ripped the decision on social media following the game.

Tackling Bernard and relying on a field goal instead of having to go the length of the field with under 30 seconds remaining seems like a much more feasible scenario to overcome. South Carolina started its final drive from its own nine-yard-line with 16 seconds remaining and came nowhere close to getting past midfield.

Both programs had been heading in opposite directions over the past few weeks. South Carolina had lost four of its past five games after opening the season with a 2-0 record, while Alabama had rattled off six consecutive wins (four in a row against ranked opponents) after losing to Florida State in its season opener. It appeared as if the ‘Cocks would be turning their season around Saturday night, but that was not the case.

Alabama clinches third consecutive victory over South Carolina

South Carolina opened the scoring in the game with a 24-yard field goal to cap off its opening drive. After forcing a quick three-and-out by the Alabama offense, the Gamecocks had a prime opportunity to take a quick 10-point lead.

Disaster struck however, as a LaNorris Sellers pass was fumbled and tipped into the air by wide receiver Rahsul Faison. Alabama DB Dashawn Jones caught the tipped ball for an interception and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown, giving the Crimson Tide a 7-3 lead.

Gamecock kicker Wiliam Joyce connected on yet another field goal to cut the deficit to one, but Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson hit tight end Josh Cuevas for a three-yard score just before halftime to extend the lead to 14-6 for the Tide.

Coming out of the break however, South Carolina played with its hair on fire. Sellers hit wide receiver Nyck Harbor in stride for a 54-yard touchdown on Carolina’s first drive, held Alabama scoreless and then kicked its third field goal of the game to take a 15-14 lead into the fourth quarter.

Sellers, who enjoyed his best game of the season, extended the Gamecock lead a bit thanks to a 10-yard rushing score with 10 minutes remaining. Alabama however bounced back and knotted the game at 22 apiece with a four-yard passing touchdown from Simpson to receiver Germie Bernard just before the two-minute warning.

With the game now tied, Carolina got the ball back with two minutes remaining. Just three plays into its potential game-winning drive, Sellers fumbled and the ball was recovered by the Crimson Tide. They drove the length of the field and took the lead on the controversial Bernard score, cementing the conference road victory in Columbia.