Gamecocks go full Beamer Ball in the season opener

Gamecocks go full Beamer Ball in the season opener

South Carolina opened the season with a 35-14 win against the visiting Georgia State Panthers.

There was a lot of tension coming into this game considering the history between Georgia State's program members and the Gamecocks.

Head Coach Shawn Elliott was on the Gamecock Coaching Staff from 2010 to 2016 and was alongside Gamecock Head Coach Shane Beamer on Steve Spurrier's staff.

Jamyest Williams is also a former Gamecock that is now an RB for the Panthers.

The Gamecocks entered this season with higher expectations than usual with the offseason additions from the transfer portal of former 5-star QB Spencer Rattler and 4-star TE Austin Stogner both from Oklahoma.

Eyes are also on TE Jaheim Bell who is touted as one of the best players in the country at his position. He joins offensive returners Marshawn Lloyd and JuJu McDowell at RB, with Wake Forest transfer Christian Beal-Smith expected to get 3rd String reps.

Back in the receiving core are Seniors Josh Vann and Dakereon Joyner, alongside Ahmarean Brown, Jalen Brooks, and Antwane Wells Jr.

In terms of play, tonight here are a few takeaways from tonight's game.

Offense

Marcus Satterfield's offense was very wary in this first game despite putting up 35 points. The Gamecocks only generated 305 total yards of offense, and only had 79 rushing yards on the day.

Even more surprising was Rattler's performance of a ho-hum 226 passing yards, along with two INTs, the 2nd one being egregious.

Other than the interceptions, Rattler did have a solid turn in his first game as a Gamecock. He showed great pocket awareness, elusiveness, and most importantly consistency.

The run game was a bit stagnant and wasn't what we need moving forward heading into SEC play. Jaheim Bell led the team in rushing yards with 39, and the team had 75 total.

In the air, Wells led the team in receptions with 7 for 55 yards. Jalen Brooks had 4 catches for 88 yards. Shockingly, Josh Vann was held to just 1 catch.

Defense

Clayton White's defense was one of the highlights of last season, and they were in midseason form tonight. They only had one big drive go for a touchdown and held the Panthers to 111 passing yards.

However, the team did allow 200 rushing yards, which is a problem they'll need to address prior to SEC play. A Marcellas Dial pick in the 4th Quarter essentially sealed the deal on tonight's win.

Special Teams

The saving grace of tonight's game. With Parker White gone, Mitch Jeter got his first ever FG attempt as a Gamecock and drilled a 53-yarder, the 4th longest FG in Gamecock history. He then hit a 51-yarder later to end the first half, the 7th longest FG.

After trailing 14-12, Rattler connected with Marshawn Lloyd for the first TD of the night. Then the defense forced a 3-and-out and Rashad Amos got a massive tide-turning blocked punt, which DQ Smith scooped up and took to the house to make it a 28-14 ballgame.

A quarter later, Ahmarean Brown recovered a blocked punt by Traevon Kenion for another TD.

A Special Teams performance like this was surely music to Beamer's ears.

Next up for the Gamecocks is a road trip to Little Rock to face the #19 Arkansas Razorbacks, fresh off a 31-24 victory against Cincinnati.