South Carolina rallied to beat UCF 31-14 at home Saturday, stopping a two-game losing streak for the Gamecocks.
What the win means for South Carolina: After two straight losses, the last one a 32-point beating at the hands of Georgia, the Gamecocks needed any win. And even though it was ugly for the first 2 1/2 quarters, they came to life after falling behind 14-5 and reeled off 26 unanswered points to win.
What the loss means for UCF: The start to the game was promising for the Knights, but the result was all too familiar. They remained winless, and in all four losses, have failed to score more than 15 points. Salvaging a winning season at this point looks like a real long shot for a UCF program that won the Fiesta Bowl two years ago.
Game ball goes to: In his first start, South Carolina quarterback Lorenzo Nunez shook off early jitters to finish with 307 yards of total offense. He passed for 184 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed 18 times for 123 yards. It’s definitely something to build on for the true freshman.
Turning point: A lethargic South Carolina was finally able to take a third-quarter lead when Pharoh Cooper's 29-yard touchdown run put the Gamecocks ahead 15-14. On the Knights’ next possession, Bo Schneider's pass was intercepted by T.J. Holloman at the UCF 40. Four plays later, the Gamecocks were back in the Knights’ end zone, and UCF never recovered.