Spencer Rattler threw three touchdown passes as South Carolina’s offense overpowered Vanderbilt in a 38-27 win Saturday night in Nashville.
The Gamecocks (6-3, 3-3 SEC) had fallen out of the Top 25 rankings after a loss to Missouri last week, but they have won five of their last six games after starting the season 1-2.
Rattler finished with 186 passing yards, completing 16 of 23 attempts. Dakereon Joyner also threw a touchdown pass for the Gamecocks, hitting Antwane Wells Jr. for a 68-yard score in the first quarter.
Wells also caught a touchdown pass from Rattler late in the third quarter, a 17-yard connection. That gave South Carolina a 17-point lead and enough cushion to keep the Commodores from a comeback.
Vanderbilt’s Mike Wright threw a 5-yard touchdown pass in the flat to Ray Davis with 6:06 to play in the game, giving the Commodores a glimmer of hope, but they lost for the sixth time in seven games after opening the season 2-0.
Vanderbilt was driving late in the game trying to get within one score, but after Ben Bresnahan caught a pass from Wright for an 11-yard gain, he fumbled the ball away.
South Carolina’s O’Donnell Fortune forced the fumble, and teammate Zacch Pickens recovered at the Vanderbilt 46-yard line.
Moments later, Fortune intercepted Wright with 1:04 to play, the fourth turnover of the night by Vanderbilt. That sealed the win for the Gamecocks.
Christian Beal-Smith ran 52 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, giving South Carolina a 24-14 lead. The Gamecocks took a 31-14 lead to halftime.
Vanderbilt (3-6, 0-5) put up 454 yards of total offense. Davis rushed for 167 yards on 20 carries, and quarterback AJ Swann went 10 of 18 passing for 127 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
The Gamecocks beaten the Commodores 14 straight times.
–Field Level Media