Blazers fall hard to Gamecocks

Jonathan Deal, Asst. Sports Editor
Published On: 09/30/2008

The football team lost to another tough opponent in Columbia, S.C., on Saturday night. The South Carolina Gamecocks beat the Blazers 26-13 with two first-half touchdowns by redshirt freshman quarterback Stephen Garcia.

The South Carolina defense was too much for UAB, holding the Blazers to a season-low 209 yards of offense.

“Congratulations to South Carolina and particularly their defense,” said UAB head coach Neil Callaway. “I thought Ellis Johnson did an outstanding job. He really has their defense playing well.”

UAB had arguably their best defensive performance of the year in the loss, holding South Carolina to just 353 yards of total offense. UAB’s defense held strong against a South Carolina offense that played three different quarterbacks who combined for less than 200 yards passing.

The Blazer’s were led defensively by junior Brandon Carlisle, who intercepted two passes from the quarterback trio and led the team with nine tackles. Sophomore defensive-end Bryant Turner also played well in the loss, recording three sacks and a forced fumble.

“I thought our defense hung in with them pretty well,” Callaway said. “I was very disappointed in our offense. I don’t think we gave ourselves a chance. South Carolina is a good defensive football team, but we made so many mistakes and penalties that we didn’t give ourselves a chance.”

Joe Webb was the lone quarterback for the Blazers, but could only manage 140 yards passing, going 17-for-28 with two interceptions and no touchdowns. Webb also ran for 22 yards on nine carries, while adding a touchdown late in the game.

Ryan Succop opened the scoring for South Carolina with a 44-yard field goal in the first quarter. Senior kicker Swayze Waters tied the game for the Blazers with a 38-yard field goal before Stephen Garcia found Brian Maddox on a 13-yard touchdown pass to put the Gamecocks in front 10-3.

South Carolina took a two touchdown lead midway through the second quarter when Stephen Garcia ran into the end zone from five yards out. Garcia finished the game with 131 yards on 13-of-20 passing with a touchdown and an interception. The redshirt freshman also led the Gamecocks in rushing with 86 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown.
Swayze Waters made his second 38-yard field goal of the half with 2:30 left in the second quarter, but was countered by another Succop field goal with 24 seconds left to bring the score to 20-6 at the half.

Despite accounting for two first-half touchdowns, South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier pulled Stephen Garcia when he threw an interception to Brandon Carlisle to start the third quarter. The “Old Ball Coach” then alternated starter Chris Smelley and Tommy Beecher for the remainder of the game, but neither had much luck against an improved UAB defense.

The Blazer defense held the Gamecocks to just a single field goal in the second half, while scoring a touchdown of their own to finish the contest. Webb refused to quit and led the Blazers to a seven play, 81-yard drive, capped off by a one yard touchdown run with 24 seconds to play.

Webb entered the game as the nation’s leading rushing quarterback, but found little space against a speedy South Carolina defense. The game concludes the nonconference schedule for the Blazers, and they now turn their attention toward a pivotal C-USA match-up against Memphis. UAB will have little time to rest with a Thursday game approaching against the Tigers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Legion Field.