South Carolina falls to Clemson in season finale

Entering Saturday, South Carolina already knew there was no chance of going to a bowl, with seven losses. Clemson knew it was going to a bowl game with six wins. All teams had to play for in the 122nd edition of the Palmetto Bowl was pride.

For the fourth straight year, South Carolina saw a chance to win it in the fourth quarter. However, for the second straight time at home, they squandered it. The road team has now won the last five matchups in the South Carolina-Clemson rivalry.

Through the game’s final 30 minutes, South Carolina had five chances to take a lead-taking touchdown. They failed on every single one as Clemson led wire-to-wire. The 28-14 loss resulted in the Gamecocks’ sixth straight loss to the Tigers at Williams-Brice Stadium.

Throughout Saturday’s game, it felt as if all South Carolina needed was to take the lead once. However, everything they kept doing, Clemson kept answering.

The Gamecocks stayed in it through the entire game. However, when crunch time approached, they could not answer, a theme for South Carolina all season. The loss became its sixth where the Gamecocks were within one score entering the fourth quarter.

“I think today was our seventh one-score game going into the fourth quarter … When we came together at the 50-yard line like we always do, said here we are. This is 15 minutes, and you guys can leave your legacy here with how we go play in these last 15 minutes,” Beamer said.

“Thought we were going to win the game in the fourth quarter, and what a story it would be, and it didn’t happen. Turnovers, lack of execution, poor coaching, all of it.”

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Clemson opened the game with a punt, inspiring the Gamecock faithful to get loud in a sold-out Williams-Brice. However, a quick three-and-out from South Carolina briefly stopped that.

South Carolina’s second drive got off to a better start. After breaking out of its own endzone, LaNorris Sellers then found Jared Brown for a 32-yard gain.

However, as if it were a microcosm of South Carolina’s season, Brown proceeded to fumble the ball after the catch. Meanwhile, a collective groan sounded over Williams-Brice as Clemson took over in plus territory.

Luckily for the Gamecocks, Cade Klubnik found Jalon Kilgore instead of Adam Randall in the endzone six plays later.

The Gamecock response set the standard of the Gamecocks having to match the Tigers on every drive the rest of the way.

If the opening quarter showcased the teams’ defenses, the second showcased the offense after the Tigers opened the afternoon’s scoring.

Once the Tigers scored, LaNorris Sellers put the Gamecocks in the end zone in three plays after a 53-yard touchdown by Nyck Harbor.

Harbor’s 115 yards on Saturday is a new career high, and his second straight game with 100-yard games. He credits a lot of that to interim offensive coordinator Mike Furrey and Sellers.

Clemson continued to match, as its wide receiver core continued to carve up the Gamecock defense. Two quick short passes moved the Tigers to their 33. Randall added on 22 on the ground. Then, a facemask set Clemson up in the red zone.

Saturday’s second-quarter madness continued when, at the 3-yard line, Klubnik fumbled the ball, picked it up, and ran it into the end zone. Again, South Carolina found a quick answer.

On the opening play of the following drive, Sellers found Vandrevius Jacobs through double coverage, who took it 74 yards to the house.

Neither secondary got off to a hot start on Saturday. By halftime, the Gamecocks and Tigers had five combined players who averaged 10 or more yards per completion. South Carolina’s three, Harbor, Jacobs and Brown each averaged at least 20.

As the first half came to a close, South Carolina kept scratching. Clemson kept answering, and the Tigers took a 17-14 lead into the break.

Though the game looked tight on the scoreboard, the stat sheet told a different story. At the halftime break, Clemson led in time of possession 21:44 to 8:16. The Tigers also ran 47 plays to the Gamecocks’ 19.

“We had a couple big plays that got the 14 points that we had right there, but I think on third down, any coach would tell you got to be great on first and second down to stay out of those situations,” Beamer said. “We didn’t do a great job on first and second down.”

South Carolina entered halftime 0-3 on third down. They finished the game 1-11 and 1-3 on fourth down.

South Carolina had its chance to take the lead coming out of the break. They proceeded to go three and out. However, its defense kept it in the game after only allowing a field goal to keep it a one-score game.

Then, as the third came to a close, the Gamecocks had another chance. Sellers and South Carolina were on their longest drive of the game. The Gamecocks had the ball in field goal range at the Clemson 23.

Then, on third down, Sellers threw an interception. The play felt like a backbreaker across Williams-Brice Stadium as the Tigers took over at the 20.

The Gamecocks called a read option. Sellers saw nothing but green grass streaking down the sideline. It seemed as if the touchdown was inevitable. Then, Wade Woodaz made a game-changing tackle after a 13-yard gain.

South Carolina went to turn it over on downs as the clock ticked under nine minutes. Clemson’s ensuing drive drove into plus territory. On third down, needing only a few yards to make a game-sealing field goal, South Carolina forced a Clemson punt.

The Gamecocks got one last chance, Sellers threw an immediate pick-six. Then, Harbor fumbled the ball. Clemson’s sideline and coaches’ box erupted. South Carolina finished the season 4-8.

“There were so many weeks where we got our guts absolutely ripped out of our bodies on Saturdays,” Beamer said. ” … There’s so many plays where we got to be more detailed.”

He hopes that, coming off the difficult season, his players will learn the fine line between winning and losing.

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