South Carolina football blew out the Akron Zips in Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday.
Many South Carolina football fans were curious about Saturday’s game against Akron, especially with starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers sidelined. While there wasn’t much worry about a potential loss to the Zips, there were some concerns among the garnet and black supporters about the offense’s performance.
In the end, backup quarterback Robby Ashford rose to the occasion, leading the Gamecocks to a convincing 50-7 victory and improving their season record to 3-1, the best they’ve achieved since 2017.
Although the day wasn’t without its flaws—head coach Shane Beamer voiced significant frustration during a halftime interview—the Gamecock defense played well, aside from one long touchdown by Akron. The offense had some bright spots, though not as many as one might expect in a game where they scored 50 points.
The Gamecocks got off to a solid start with 15 points in the first quarter, but their scoring slowed down in the second and third, managing only 14 points compared to Akron’s 7. However, they had a strong fourth quarter.
Despite not playing extensively in the latter part of the game, Ashford completed 15 of 21 passes, amassing over 360 combined yards through passing and rushing. Four other players contributed at least 25 rushing yards, helping the team achieve a total of 273 rushing yards.
Starting running back Rocket Sanders suffered an ankle injury during the second drive, but afterward, Beamer expressed optimism that it wouldn’t be a long-term issue.
Overall, both Beamer and Gamecock fans were heartened by the performance against Akron. Despite the challenges of playing with a backup quarterback and an imperfect team showing, South Carolina football convincingly defeated another FBS opponent and allowed many young players to gain valuable experience.
FANS
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | South Carolina football fans packed Williams-Brice Stadium for the game against a struggling Akron team, even though it was known that a backup quarterback would be starting. This enthusiasm is commendable. The atmosphere was vibrant early on, but the student section was largely empty by halftime, and many other fans left soon after. While this isn’t a major knock on the fans (considering it was a blowout against Akron), it didn’t quite reflect an “A” effort from the Gamecock fanbase.
COACHING
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | Following a disappointing loss to LSU last week, head coach Shane Beamer ensured his team was focused and ready to face Akron. It wasn’t a flawless performance, but USC was prepared. Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains provided Robby Ashford with passing opportunities, preparing him for more critical situations ahead, while Clayton White’s defense delivered a dominant performance. However, special teams were less impressive, likely frustrating special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis. There were some puzzling choices on offense, such as running short routes on 3rd-and-long against a cover-1 defense. These issues slightly lower the coaching grade, but a decisive 50-7 victory keeps it from being too low.
SPECIAL TEAMS
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | The Gamecocks didn’t shine on special teams during Saturday’s game. While Kai Kroeger punted well, including one that was perfectly placed inside the 2-yard line, other aspects of special teams struggled. The punt return team had players struggling to handle short punts, including a muffed punt that was negated by a questionable penalty against Akron. Although Jalon Kilgore had an explosive return, he wasn’t utilized again afterward. Alex Herrera’s squib kick attempt was poorly executed, and several of his kickoffs were shorter than normal. Additionally, Coach Joe D’s unit received a delay of game penalty after having trouble getting the right players on the field, which has been a recurring issue this season.
South Carolina Football vs. Akron Zips
Grades for the Offense
QUARTERBACK
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | Robby Ashford had a mixed performance against Akron, struggling at times with holding the ball too long. However, overall, he did well for the Gamecocks, racking up over 360 total yards and accounting for three touchdowns (two passing and one rushing). While he put a few passes at risk, his receivers mostly managed to draw penalties or make catches. Backup quarterback Davis Beville also performed decently in limited play late in the game.
RUNNING BACK
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | The discussion about the running backs must start with Rocket Sanders’ ankle injury. However, the performance of the other backs is also noteworthy. Due to a combination of missed opportunities and inconsistent offensive line play, the non-Ashford running backs collectively averaged under 4 yards per carry against a weak Akron defense
WIDE RECEIVER
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | The wide receiver group had a rollercoaster performance, showing both strong plays and notable errors. Mazeo Bennett and Gage Larvadain stood out by consistently getting open and drawing penalties. However, there were significant drops and mistakes from Dalevon Campbell, Nyck Harbor, and others that were hard to overlook
TIGHT ENDS
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | Four Gamecock tight ends—Josh Simon, Brady Hunt, Michael Smith, and Connor Cox—each caught a pass in the game, with Cox scoring his first career touchdown. The A-gap shifts were beneficial in short-yardage situations. However, several plays broke down due to missed blocks, penalties, or poor routes by tight ends
OFFENSIVE LINE
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | The offensive line’s performance wasn’t as dominant as coach Lonnie Teasley would have preferred. Despite facing a weak Akron defense, the Gamecocks struggled to make significant progress in the run game, mainly gaining yards due to missed assignments by Akron or broken tackles. In pass protection, Ashford was sacked three times and faced pressure on many other plays.
South Carolina Football vs. Akron Zips
Grades for the Defense
DEFENSIVE LINE
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | The defensive line had a solid performance against Akron, though it wasn’t exceptional. After showcasing strong pass-rushing skills in the first three weeks of the season, the Gamecocks struggled to apply pressure on Saturday, managing to sack each of Akron’s two quarterbacks only once. However, the run defense was strong, and the defensive front contributed to several hurried throws.
LINEBACKERS
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | Linebacker Debo Williams was once again a standout leader for the Gamecocks, both in terms of production and communication during the game against Akron. The only players on the USC defense with more than three tackles were the veteran linebackers. Williams, Bam Martin-Scott, and Demetrius Knight all made critical stops, helping the team limit Akron to just 154 total yards.
SECONDARY
South Carolina Gamecocks vs. Akron Zips | Aside from one long play that accounted for over a quarter of Akron’s total yardage, the Carolina secondary performed well. USC defensive backs effectively covered their assignments, allowing only 117 yards on 30 passing attempts. One of Akron’s few deep throws came in the fourth quarter, where defensive back DQ Smith intercepted a pass from Ben Finley. The secondary’s biggest issues were a missed assignment by Judge Collier, which led to a touchdown, and a near-touchdown that was almost caught by Vicari Swain, but overall, they had a solid day.
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