South Carolina scratches out victory over Wildcats with big plays and Jeffery

COLUMBIA -- South Carolina has built the first half of its season on limiting turnovers and playing hard-nosed defense. And it's worked, for the most part.

The Gamecocks had lapses in both areas Saturday against Kentucky, but they managed to prove one thing by the day's end: Big plays can cover up mistakes.

Stopping a two-point conversion and picking up late third downs, the 25th-ranked Gamecocks escaped with a 28-26 victory against the Wildcats in front of 68,278 fans at Williams-Brice Stadium.

And add to that a stellar performance by freshman receiver Alshon Jeffery, who caught seven passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns.

The smallest crowd here since 1998 watched USC run its win streak against Kentucky to 10 games.

They missed a relatively exciting game, one that Steve Spurrier twice called "fun" afterward.

"We didn't play perfectly. But, on the other hand, we had some big plays," said Spurrier, now 17-0 against Kentucky in his career. "We had enough to end up winning the game. That's what we take from it.

We won the game."

Barely.

Kentucky's versatile Randall Cobb rushed for 64 yards of his 89 on the Wildcats' final drive, getting in the end zone on a 2-yard keeper with 4:34 to play.

The tired and youthful Gamecocks defense had no answers for Cobb, who was lined up in the appropriately named Wildcat formation.

Poised to tie the game, Kentucky lined up to go for two.

But, even after the score, end Cliff Matthews got a hand on Will Fidler's two-point conversion pass to keep USC (5-1, 2-1 SEC) ahead 28-26.

Fidler was in the game because Mike Hartline (knee), who had a nice first half, was knocked out early in the second half.

Cobb, Fidler and the Wildcats (2-3, 0-3) were itching for another shot at the USC defense.

But they didn't get one, thanks to the Gamecocks' offense.

"That was encouraging to see," Spurrier said.

Not that there weren't tense moments for the Gamecocks on their final possession.

Facing third-and-4 at their own 26, and with about three minutes to play, Stephen Garcia came up with a play that'll be known as The Leap.

Garcia rolled right, hopeful of finding fullback Pat DiMarco in the flat. But DiMarco was covered up, and the sophomore quarterback had to improvise.

He saw reserve cornerback Cartier Rice between him and the first-down marker. So, he leapt over Rice. Garcia was crunched, but flew past the line to move the chains.

Spurrier said it was a play that earned more of Garcia's teammates' respect. Maybe the Ball Coach's, too?

"That was a big-time play and sort of shows what he's capable of," Spurrier said.

Added Garcia: "It kind of hurt a little bit. My back's tight right now. But it was worth it."

Facing another third-and-5 with 2:26 to go, the Gamecocks' coaches hit gold by calling a delayed handoff to Kenny Miles.

Miles jetted through the gut for 14 yards to seal the game.

The freshman, who got the start, finished the day with 100 yards on 17 carries. Early in the fourth, Miles set up what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown with a 26-yard rush to the 1. Garcia plunged in a play later.

The running lanes weren't there early on. But, of all people, Jeffery opened them up.

Kentucky's secondary had to account for Jeffery, who made jump-ball catches on two of his three touchdowns. He caught seven passes for 138 yards and USC's first three touchdowns (two on jump-ball throws).

When the safety shifted to Jeffery's side, Miles finally had room to run.

"This is a win that can propel us into the rest of the SEC season," Miles said.

All those monster plays managed to erase a whole slew of mistakes littered throughout the game for the Gamecocks.

The offensive line was dreadful at times. Garcia fumbled in the red zone to set up a Kentucky field goal. He also threw a first-down interception at the Wildcats' 30-yard line, ending a streak of 124 straight passes without a pick. (Kentucky didn't have a turnover, interestingly.)

Additionally, the Gamecocks' defense wasn't nearly as salty as it had been in the team's bigger wins, at North Carolina State and against Ole Miss.

USC gave up 360 total yards, and 205 rushing yards -- both season highs. It surrendered 6 of 11 third-down conversions in the first half.

Injuries and suspensions have reduced defensive head coach Ellis Johnson's ability to rotate. The players that are in there? Well, they're young.

"I looked up one time and there were seven freshmen on the field," Johnson said. "It's just like running a day care out there sometimes."

Even in the win, Garcia said this type of uneven effort will not be enough next week.

South Carolina travels to play at No. 3 Alabama, which won on the road at Ole Miss.

"We have to improve tenfold," Garcia said. "We have to play up to our capability."