NCAAF Game Recap - Kentucky at South Carolina
Sat Sep 28, 2019 7:30 PM EDT

Clem
21
UNC
20
F
Miss
31
Bama
59
F
OSU
48
Neb
7
F
TxTch
16
Okla
55
F
MissSt
23
Aub
56
F
NW
15
Wisc
24
F
Tows
0
Fla
38
F
UVA
20
ND
35
F
PSU
59
MD
0
F
MidTN
3
Iowa
48
F
AzSt
24
Cal
17
F
USC
14
Wash
28
F
WaSt
13
Utah
38
F
Rut
0
Mich
52
F
UConn
21
UCF
56
F
TxAM
31
Ark
27
F
K St
13
OkSt
26
F
Ind
31
MSU
40
F
Navy
23
Mem
35
F
Duke
45
VaTec
10
F
SJSU
24
AF
41
F
C Mi
15
WestMI
31
F
Buff
20
MiaOH
34
F
NIU
18
Vand
24
F
Kans
14
TCU
51
F
BYU
21
Toled
28
F
HolyC
3
Syr
41
F
Del
14
Pitt
17
F
JMU
45
Elon
10
F
JacSt
33
APSU
52
F
CoCar
37
App
56
F
IASt
21
Bayl
23
F
GATec
2
Temp
24
F
MIN
38
Purd
31
F
Akr
29
UMass
37
F
FlAtl
45
UNCC
27
F
Wake
27
BC
24
F
SMU
48
SoFL
21
F
Cin
52
Marsh
14
F
ArkSt
50
Troy
43
F
ULLaf
37
GaSo
24
F
ECU
24
OD
21
F
NM
10
Lib
17
F
SamHu
28
McNee
17
F
SoAl
17
ULMon
30
F
Stan
31
OreSt
28
F
UAB
13
W Ky
20
F
Nich
3
TxSt
24
F
UTEP
13
SMiss
31
F
LT
23
Rice
20
F OT
ColSt
24
UtSt
34
F
KY
7
SCar
24
F
NCSt
13
FlaSt
31
F
UNLV
17
Wyo
53
F
Fres
30
NMS
17
F
Hou
46
NorTx
25
F
Hawaii
54
NEV
3
F
UCLA
17
Ariz
20
F

Sep 28, 2019, 7:30 PM EDT

Final

1

2

3

4

T

Kentucky (2-3)

0

0

0

7

7

South Carolina (2-3)

7

3

7

7

24

Defense, Dowdle lead South Carolina to 24-7 win vs. Kentucky
Sun Sep 29, 2019 12:12 AM

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Rico Dowdle and Tavien Feaster like sharing the football, especially when it leads to South Carolina victories like this.

Dowdle and Feaster, the Gamecocks' two senior tailbacks, both ran for more than 100 yards and accounted for three touchdowns as South Carolina (2-3, 1-2 Southeastern Conference) snapped a five-game series losing streak to Kentucky with a 24-7 victory Saturday night.

Dowdle had 102 yards and a 30-yard TD while Feaster, the Clemson graduate transfer, had 107 yards and scoring runs of 2 and 19 yards in a dominant win over the Wildcats (2-3, 0-3).

Many wondered how Dowdle and Feaster, both dynamic runners, would manage in the same backfield. They gave an emphatic answer against Kentucky.

"He pushes me to be better. I push him to be better," Dowdle said. "I think it's working pretty well."

The Gamecocks also ended a run of six consecutive losses to Power Five opponents. And they did it just the way coach Will Muschamp wanted with an effective running attack.

Dowdle surpassed the century mark for the second time in three games. But Dowdle appeared to injure his left leg less than two minutes into the fourth quarter and needed support to make the sidelines as the crowd chanted "Rico, Rico."

Dowdle said his ankle got rolled, but he expected to be OK when South Carolina plays at No. 3 Georgia in two weeks.

Feaster gave South Carolina a second 100-yard rusher with 107 yards (67 in the final period) and touchdown runs of 2 and 19 yards. It's the first time the Gamecocks had a pair of 100-yard rushers in SEC play since 2001 when Andrew Pinnock and Derek Watson did it in a win over Vanderbilt with Lou Holtz as coach.

Feaster won a pair of national titles with Clemson, but wanted a new setting where he could showcase the skills that made him a five-star prospect coming out of high school. It had been slow going at times for South Carolina's run game this season until the breakthrough against Kentucky.

The win "proves a lot," Feaster said. "Just that hard work and dedication will take you far. Even if the results weren't immediate, just keep pushing, keep fighting."

The Gamecocks certainly did, pressuring Kentucky quarterback Sawyer Smith throughout and giving up just 111 yards total the first three quarters. The Wildcats broke up a shutout on Chris Rodriguez's 2-yard scoring run with 2:32 left in the game.

"This was a commanding win and that's what we needed going into an off week," Muschamp said.

Kentucky last started SEC play with three losses in 2013.

The Wildcats had averaged better than 200 yards rushing against South Carolina during the win streak. They managed just 115 yards on the ground in this one.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Smith was dealing with injuries and struggled to move the ball.

"We need to hit the reset button and get some guys healthy," he said. "And get some of these mistakes that we're making corrected."

THE TAKEAWAY

Kentucky: The Wildcats defense struggled against a South Carolina offense that came in averaging only 93 yards rushing against its three previous Power Five opponents this season. Kentucky must correct that during the open week before playing three of their next four games at home.

South Carolina: The sky had all but fallen on the Gamecocks through the four games of the season and with expected starting quarterback Jake Bentley lost for the season with a foot injury. But South Carolina leaned heavily on its run game and allowed freshman quarterback Ryan Hilinski the time to make plays when he had to. The Gamecocks now have hope heading into the bye week, something few thought this time a week ago.

QUARTERBACK ISSUES

South Carolina made it through with further injuries to its quarterback corps. The season's starter, Jake Bentley, is out for the year with a fractured foot while backup Dakereon Joyner had a strained hamstring. Bentley has a scooter device to keep his foot elevated while Joyner was on crutches. Freshman Ryan Hilinski, the SEC rookie of the week two weeks ago, had a steady performance in victory. He finished with 140 yards on 15-of-27 passing.

FOUR EYES

South Carolina coach Will Muschamp had glasses on during the game, the 48-year-old acknowledging like many people the toll times takes on your eyes. "Yeah, I'm getting old," he said. "I can't read anymore, especially at night."

Center Donell Stanley liked the look. "I think it makes him look more experienced, I think," he said.

UP NEXT

Kentucky is off next week, then returns home to face Arkansas on Oct. 12.

South Carolina also has a bye next week before heading to No. 3 Georgia on Oct. 12.

---

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/tag/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Passing

KY Att Cmp % TD-Pa Yds-Pa LgPa Int Rat
S. Smith 32 11 34.4 0 90 26 1 30.2
L. Bowden Jr. 2 2 100.0 0 7 9 0 81.3
SCar Att Cmp % TD-Pa Yds-Pa LgPa Int Rat
R. Hilinski 27 15 55.6 0 140 23 0 70.0

Rushing

KY Att Yds-Ru Avg LgRu TDRu
C. Rodriguez Jr. 6 65 10.8 44 1
L. Bowden Jr. 6 44 7.3 26 0
SCar Att Yds-Ru Avg LgRu TDRu
T. Feaster 15 107 7.1 28 2
R. Dowdle 15 102 6.8 30 1

Receiving

KY Rec Yds-Rc Avg LgRc TD-Rc
A. Wagner 2 35 17.5 26 0
L. Bowden Jr. 3 18 6.0 13 0
SCar Rec Yds-Rc Avg LgRc TD-Rc
B. Edwards 6 37 6.2 13 0
S. Smith 2 30 15.0 22 0

Fumbles

KY F FL
L. Bowden Jr. 1 0
S. Smith 1 1
SCar F FL
M. Denson 1 0

Returning

KY KR Avg KRTD LgKR PR Avg TD LgPR
J. Ali 0 0 0 1 9.0 0 9
SCar KR Avg KRTD LgKR PR Avg TD LgPR
D. Rush 0 0 0 1 -2.0 0 0

Punting

KY Punt Yds Avg LgPu
M. Duffy 9 460 51.1 62
SCar Punt Yds Avg LgPu
J. Charlton 9 461 51.2 65

Takeaways

SCar Int Yds InTD
E. Jones 1 0 0

Team Stats Comparison

KY SCar
Points For 7 24
Total Yards 212 387
Rushing Yards 115 247
Passing Yards 97 140
Passing Completions / Attempts 13/34 15/27
Turnovers 2 1
Interceptions Thrown 1 0
Fumbles - Lost 2/1 2/1
First Downs 9 21
Penalties - Yards 4/20 5/40
Time Of Possession 10:10 50:50
Third Down Conversions/Attempts 2/15 5/15
Fourth Down Conversions/Attempts 0/2 0/0
Punts - Average Yards 9/51 9/51

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter KY SCar
SCar 03:51 TD Tavien Feaster 2 yd run (Parker White kick) 0 7
2nd Quarter KY SCar
SCar 03:17 FG Parker White 26 yd FG 0 10
3rd Quarter KY SCar
SCar 01:01 TD Rico Dowdle 30 yd run (Parker White kick) 0 17
4th Quarter KY SCar
SCar 07:12 TD Tavien Feaster 19 yd run (Parker White kick) 0 24
KY 12:28 TD Christopher Rodriguez Jr. 2 yd run (Matt Ruffolo kick) 7 24

Game Information

Stadium: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South Carolina
Attendance: 80,828
Game Time:
Weather: