Columbia, SC
Sep 21, 2024
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The lights at Williams-Brice Stadium flashed on and off so much on Saturday night, one would have thought it was a rave if they didn’t know any better. Instead, it was a football game involving the Akron Zips (1-3) and the South Carolina Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1 SEC), one which saw the home side take home a reassuring 50-7 victory seven days removed from a controversial loss to conference mate LSU on a College GameDay Saturday.
Redshirt junior Ben Finley led the offense with 110 passing yards (14-27-1) and a 42-yard touchdown to sophomore Adrian Norton. The Gamecocks' offensive line opened the scoring with a seven-play, 85-yard drive ending in Oscar Adaway III's two-yard touchdown. South Carolina stretched the lead to 22-0 late in the half, but Akron responded with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Finley to Norton. Despite their efforts, Akron's offense couldn't find its footing, and South Carolina capitalized with multiple touchdowns in the final quarter, securing their dominant victory.
Oscar Adaway III (South Carolina)
Adaway III punctuated a methodical 13-play, 89-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, marking the first score. The drive took 5:38 off the game clock, putting the Gamecocks ahead 7-0.
Robby Ashford (South Carolina)
Ashford found true freshman Mazeo Bennett Jr. for a 30-yard touchdown, followed by a successful 2-point conversion run by punter Kai Kroeger, extending the lead to 15-0.
Robby Ashford (South Carolina)
Ashford completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to JuJu McDowell on a fourth-and-1 play, finishing off an 11-play, 80-yard drive and extending the Gamecocks' lead to 22-0.
Ben Finley (Akron)
Finley connected with Adrian Norton for a 42-yard touchdown pass, putting Akron on the board and cutting the score to 22-7 just before halftime.
Oscar Adaway III (South Carolina)
Adaway III scored his second 2-yard rushing touchdown of the game, effectively putting the game out of reach for Akron with South Carolina leading 29-7.
Robby Ashford (South Carolina)
Ashford broke through the Akron defense for a 36-yard rushing touchdown, further cementing South Carolina's dominant position in the game.
Davis Beville (South Carolina)
Beville, stepping in for Ashford, found Connor Cox for a 9-yard touchdown pass, extending the Gamecocks’ lead.
Jawarn Howell (South Carolina)
Howell capped off the scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run, the last score of the game, putting an exclamation point on the Gamecocks' commanding victory.
Antavious Fish (Akron)
Fish sacked Ashford for a 10-yard loss on third down, forcing the Gamecocks to punt, giving Akron a rare defensive highlight.
Kai Kroeger (South Carolina)
Kroeger delivered a 75-yard punt that pinned Akron at their own 1-yard line, showcasing exceptional leg strength and flipping the field.
Robby Ashford (South Carolina, QB)
No stranger to high-stakes performances, Ashford stepped in for the injured LaNorris Sellers and amassed 243 passing yards and two touchdowns while also leading the Gamecocks in rushing with 133 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
Oscar Adaway III (South Carolina, RB)
Adaway was a key player in the Gamecocks' red zone efficiency, finding the end zone twice from 2 yards out, contributing to his team's dominance on the ground.
Ben Finley (Akron, QB)
Finley did his best to spark Akron's offense, throwing for 110 yards and their only touchdown pass, a 42-yard strike to Adrian Norton, showcasing a strong arm and good timing.
Antavious Fish (Akron, LB)
Fish stood out on Akron’s defense with 8 tackles, a sack, and a tackle-for-loss, demonstrating his ability to disrupt South Carolina's backfield and the crucial role he played despite the team's struggles.
Gage Larvadain (South Carolina, WR)
Larvadain proved to be a deep threat, hauling in 79 receiving yards on only two catches, significantly contributing to the Gamecocks' aerial attack.
Kai Kroeger (South Carolina, P)
Kroeger executed 4 punts for a total of 213 yards, most notably a 75-yard punt that pinned Akron at their own 1-yard line, flipping field position for the Gamecocks.
JuJu McDowell (South Carolina, RB)
McDowell was a versatile asset with a 12-yard receiving touchdown and notable rushing contributions, helping the Gamecocks sustain drives.
Adrian Norton (Akron, WR)
Norton led Akron's receivers with four catches for 56 yards and a touchdown, including the 42-yard touchdown catch that was Akron’s only score of the game.
Akron Zips
0
7
0
0
7
South Carolina Gamecocks
15
7
7
21
50
