LEXINGTON, Ky. South Carolina used a balanced attack
to beat Kentucky 24-17, compiling 188 yards rushing and 186
yards passing on Saturday. South Carolina (4-2, 2-2
Southeastern Conference) has now won seven straight against
Kentucky. Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier ran his record to
14-0 against the Wildcats.South Carolina opened a 10-0
lead late in the
first half with a 42-yard field goal by Ryan Succop.
Kentucky quarterback Andre Woodson, who entered the
game tied for second in the nation with 14 touchdown passes,
got another one Saturday, a 9-yard pass to Dicky Lyons Jr. late in the
fourth quarter. Lyons' touchdown, his seventh of the year,
followed a 63-yard reception which put the Cats in position
to score.
That touchdown pulled the Wildcats to within seven, at 24-17, with three minutes
remaining. An onside kick ensued but Lones Seiber's attempt
sailed out of bounds. South Carolina ate all but 22 seconds
of the remaining time, leaving Kentucky with no chance to
score.
Woodson, (18-32, 286 yards) threw a costly third-quarter interception
that set up a second Gamecocks touchdown, a 5-yard run.
The Wildcats, unable to score in the first half, resorted
to some trick plays to loosen the Gamecocks defense. First, punter Tim Mastay
faked a punt for a 17-yard gain.
Rafael Little
dived over the top of the pile with the Cats at the Gamecock
goaline, and appeared to score. Little did not have the
ball, however. Woodson did, and he ran unopposed into the end zone.
Kentucky, now 3-3 (1-2 in SEC) missed an opportunity to
improve to a winning record in the SEC. The Cats now travel
to Baton Rouge, La., where they will meet 9th ranked LSU,
which lost to Florida earlier today.