COLUMBIA– From the opening play on offense, it looked and felt different on the field at Williams-Brice Stadium Saturday night.
Transfer senior quarterback Jason Brown pilotedthe South Carolina offense in his first career start in Columbia. With him running the show, USC offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield dialed up a flea flicker for the first play.
Brown connected with receiver Josh Vann for 16 yards – it wasn't quite the big play they were hoping– but the confident play call set the table for the best outing the Gameco*cks offense has had all 2021 against a stout Florida defense en route knocking off the Gators, 40-17.
South Carolina (5-4, 2-4) were 18-point underdogs coming into the matchup with Florida (4-5, 2-5).
The thoroughself-scouting Gameco*cks coach Shane Beamer undertook over the off week paid into the cleanest game the team has played, with zero penalties and taking care of the football.
'It's not scheme'::Gameco*cks coordinator Marcus Satterfield details USC offense's struggles
Staff Grades:Grading South Carolina football coaching staff's performance through 8 games
And Beamer became the second South Carolina football coach to beat Florida in his first season.
The Jason Brown Effect
How efficient could Brown be in his first start as a Gameco*ck? That was the largest question that loomed for the former All-Northeast Conference performer at St. Francis (FCS) once news broke he would start against Florida Friday afternoon.
By halftime, he answered that question and left no doubt. Brown looked composed and comfortable despite facing a stingy pass defense, which he carved up in stretches,and an effective Florida pass rush, which he evaded all night.
Brown didn't put the ball in danger throughout the game and trusted his offensive line on play-action plays. When he rolled out, he delivered darts on the run, another element that has been missing from the offense.
His stats won't wow you: 14-of-24for 175 yards with two touchdowns. But this game was a loud statement for his case to be the Gameco*cks' quarterback going forward.
Where did this South Carolina run game come from?
Seriously, who would've thought South Carolina's run game would've had a breakout game against a defense that limited teams to 147 yards per game.
Led by ZaQuandre White, who surpassed 100 yards rushing by midway through the third quarter, and Kevin Harris, who had a team-high 128 yards on 16 carries, the Gameco*cks rushing game popped for 281yards, including three runs longer than 39 yards.
Coming in, USC's top rushing mark against an FBS opponent was 153 yards. The running backs eclipsed that mark with 11:31 left in the first half.
The full stable of White, Kevin Harris, Juju McDowell and MarShawn Lloyd ranphysicality and finished runs by falling forward, something that was rare this year before Saturday night.
Loads of credit belongs to the big guys up front along the offensive line. It was easily their best game in 2021, keeping Brown upright and clean but also firing off the ball with forceful blocks to open holes.
South Carolina's third down defense was lights out
The biggest thing plaguing Clayton White and his defense has been its inability to get off the field on third down.
His group flipped that script against Florida, allowing just one conversion in Florida's first seven third-down tries and finished at a clip of 2-for-9.The Gameco*cks defense doing its thing allowed an effective offense to take and stretch the lead.
South Carolina did a nice job of setting up Florida's offense in less than ideal distances on third downs, averaging 6.4yards per attempt. In those longer distances, White dialed up the aggression and guys like Jaylan Foster and Kingsley "J.J." Enagbare were able to feast on Gators.
The defensive performance was highlighted by senior defensive tackle Jabari Ellis' fumble return for a touchdown that put USC up 30-10 late in the second quarter that might've put the game out of reach.
Bowl game a definite possibility in Shane Beamer's first season
The win over Florida was big for many reasons, one of which has USC pointed in the direction of postseason play.
Bowl game?:South Carolina football: Do any experts project a bowl game for the Gameco*cks?
South Carolina now has five wins. Next weekend's game at Missouri is a winnable game– in fact, the Gameco*cks should be favored. And USC closes the year at home with games with Auburn and instate rival Clemson.
If the Gameco*cks play like they played Saturday in the last two contests, they could be primed to have more than six victories.
Cory Diaz covers the South Carolina Gameco*cks for The Greenville News as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his work for all things Gameco*cks on Twitter: @CoryDiaz_TGN
