Photos: South Carolina tames Wildcats
It’s been a while since South Carolina left an SEC road venue feeling good.
That changed Saturday. The Gamecocks knocked off No. 13 Kentucky with a 24-14 win, their first over a ranked team on the road since 2019.
Special: Get a year of Gamecock Central for $10!
It was a dramatic, emotional victory and GamecockCentral was there to shoot all of it.
Check out the photo gallery here.
South Carolina upsets No. 13 Kentucky on the road
by Michael Sauls
South Carolina walked into a sold out Kroger Field on Saturday and left with a big upset win, beating No. 13 Kentucky 24-14.
The win is the Gamecocks first over the Wildcats since 2019 and the first in Lexington since 2012.
The first quarter of the game was about as chaotic as a first quarter can get.
Kentucky started the game off with the ball but turned it over on the first play of the game. South Carolina broke up a pitch attempt and Tonka Hemingway returned the ball to the one yard line, setting up a touchdown rush by MarShawn Lloyd a play later.
On the Wildcats next drive the Gamecock defense came up big again when King-Demenian Ford blocked a punt and set up South Carolina’s offense just outside of the red zone.
The Gamecocks ultimately couldn’t capitalize on the field position, with Spencer Rattler fumbling the ball a play later.
Garnet Trust: Support and connect with USC student-athletes
The icing on the cake of the crazy first quarter came when Kentucky missed a 45-yard field goal that careened off the left upright.
South Carolina only totaled 26 yards of offense in the first quarter and averaged 2.6 yards per play. Luckily for the Gamecocks, it was enough to take a 7-0 lead into the second quarter.
Kaiya Sheron helped Kentucky get back into the game midway through the second quarter. Sheron faked a pitch to the right and found tight end Jordan Dingle for a 16-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at seven a piece.
Sheron was replacing Will Levis, who was out with a foot injury, under center. Sheron hadn’t played a snap of football for Kentucky coming into the game and it showed. While he delivered in some moments, the redshirt freshman clearly struggled and was sacked six times by the Gamecocks.
Sheron finished the game 15-for-27 through the air for 178 yards with two touchdowns.
