South Carolina beat Nebraska, scoring the only 14 points of the second half in a Capital One Bowl game that was more competitive than the final score indicates. Gamecock receiver Alshon Jeffrey was one of the game's key players with 148 yards and a touchdown, but he was ejected in the third quarter.
Nebraska struck first on a 30-yard Taylor Martinez to Kenny Bell pass, but the PAT was blocked and returned for a 2-point score by the Gamecocks.
South Carolina took the lead when QB Connor Shaw ran it in from a yard out. Nebraska responded with a 1-yard run from Ameer Abdullah to make it 13-9 Nebraska at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was scoreless until the very end of the half. Both teams nearly scored in sequence but came up empty: first, Nebraska drove to the South Carolina 3-yard line but an Abdullah fumble was recovered by South Carolina. The Gamecocks struck with a 78 yard pass to Jeffery who made it to the Nebraska 7 before Alfonso Dennard caught him and saved the touchdown. It turned out to be a key play as Nebraska's defense forced a field goal that Jay Wooten missed.
Late in the half, Jeffery caught a 51 yard touchdown pass from Shaw on a hail mary, giving the Gamecocks a 16-13 lead.
The third quarter featured no scoring but the great battle between Jeffery and Dennard came to an end as both players were ejected for throwing punches after getting tangled on a play.
South Carolina took control in the fourth quarter, first on a 9-yard pass to Kenny Miles to make it 23-13, then Miles scored late in the game on a 3-yard run.
#10 South Carolina improved to 11-2 on the year, with losses to Arkansas and Auburn and wins over Clemson and Georgia. #16 Nebraska fell to 9-4, losing also to Michigan, Wisconsin, and Northwestern, and beating Penn State and Michigan State.
More previews and results: View the complete 2011-2012 bowl game schedule.
|
|
Comments