NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In a dominant performance, Raheim Sanders propelled the South Carolina Gamecocks to a resounding 28-7 victory over No. 24 Vanderbilt on Saturday, marking the team’s second consecutive win against a ranked opponent. Sanders showcased his skills by accumulating 126 rushing yards and scoring two touchdowns, in addition to a 43-yard touchdown catch.
The Gamecocks, now sporting a record of 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the Southeastern Conference, followed up their impressive win against then-No. 10 Texas A&M with another solid outing on the road against the Commodores, who dropped to 6-4 and 3-3 in the conference. South Carolina outperformed Vanderbilt significantly, with a yardage advantage of 452 to 274.
This defeat extended Vanderbilt’s losing streak against South Carolina to an astonishing 16 games. Moreover, it marked their most substantial loss of the season after a series of close matches earlier, where they lost their first three games by a mere total of 10 points, including two against teams that were in the Top 10.
LaNorris Sellers played a pivotal role for South Carolina, helping to manage the game’s tempo against a Vanderbilt offense known for controlling time of possession in the SEC. He threw for 238 yards and completed two touchdown passes, including a crucial 17-yard touchdown to Joshua Simon that secured a 7-0 lead at halftime for the Gamecocks.
South Carolina quickly extended their lead to 14-0 at the start of the third quarter. Sellers managed to evade a potential sack and connected with Jared Brown for a significant 51-yard completion, which set up a 33-yard touchdown run by Sanders, solidifying the Gamecocks’ grip on the game.
Attempting to spark a comeback, Diego Pavia, noted as the top first-year transfer in the SEC by the AP during the season’s midpoint, responded for Vanderbilt with a 17-yard touchdown run that narrowed the gap to 14-7. However, Sanders countered with a 1-yard touchdown later in the third quarter, followed by a 43-yard touchdown reception with just over seven minutes remaining, effectively sealing the victory for South Carolina.
Pavia finished the game with 166 passing yards and added 65 rushing yards along with a touchdown. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury midway through the final quarter while attempting a 28-yard completion that was ultimately called back due to offensive pass interference.
The outcome will put an end to Vanderbilt’s brief two-week stint in the Top 25, while South Carolina’s convincing win may bolster their case for entry into the rankings.
The Gamecocks celebrated their third SEC road win this season, a feat they had not accomplished since 2011, and they added this victory to earlier wins against Kentucky and Oklahoma. Conversely, Vanderbilt struggled to contain Pavia’s elusive running style throughout most of the match, which has been a critical factor in their successes this season.
Looking ahead, South Carolina is set to host Missouri next Saturday, while Vanderbilt will go on the road to face No. 14 LSU on November 23.