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COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina showed the kind of toughness it had been searching for, riding a disruptive defensive effort from sophomore edge Dylan Stewart and a revitalized ground attack to a 35–13 win over Kentucky on Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Stewart Sets the Tone
In just his second season, Stewart has already developed into a cornerstone of the Gamecocks’ defense, and Saturday was his most complete performance yet. He lived in Kentucky’s backfield, recording multiple sacks, a forced fumble, and several pressures that kept quarterback Cutter Boley uncomfortable all night.
His biggest play came early in the second quarter when he blew past a blocker and jarred the ball loose. Jatius Geer scooped it up and raced 40 yards for a touchdown, putting South Carolina on top for good.
“Dylan is becoming the kind of player who can change games,” head coach Shane Beamer said. “He played like a leader tonight, and his energy was contagious.”
Defense Turns Momentum
The defensive fireworks didn’t stop there. Just two plays after Stewart’s forced fumble, Gerald Kilgore intercepted a tipped pass and sprinted 45 yards for another score. In less than a minute, the Gamecocks turned a 10–7 deficit into a 21–10 advantage that Kentucky never recovered from.
By the end of the night, South Carolina’s defense had piled up six sacks and forced four turnovers. The Wildcats managed just three points after halftime.
Ground Game Bounces Back
After struggling to generate much on the ground last week, the Gamecocks leaned on a more physical rushing attack. Rahsul Faison provided a steady presence between the tackles, while freshman Matt Fuller gave South Carolina a short-yardage punch, finding the end zone on a goal-line carry.
Quarterback LaNorris Sellers added balance with both his arm and legs, completing 11 of 14 passes for 153 yards and rushing for 80 more. A 20-yard scramble from Sellers set up his touchdown connection to Vandrevius Jacobs, extending the lead in the third quarter.
“We wanted to come out and prove we could run the football,” Sellers said. “The offensive line responded, and that opened everything else up.”
Wildcats Fade After Quick Start
Kentucky struck first with a Seth McGowan touchdown run and briefly led 10–7 after a second-quarter field goal. But once Stewart and the Gamecocks’ defense seized control, the Wildcats had no answers.
Boley was sacked four times, picked off twice, and never found rhythm against a relentless South Carolina front.
Finishing Strong
The Gamecocks capped the night with another takeaway in the fourth quarter. Brandon Cisse intercepted Boley to set up Sellers’ short rushing touchdown, sealing the 35–13 victory and energizing the home crowd.
“This is who we want to be,” Beamer said. “Physical up front, efficient on offense, and letting the defense dictate the game.”
What’s Next
The Gamecocks (3–2, 1–2 SEC) enter their bye week with renewed momentum before traveling to No. 4 LSU in two weeks. Kentucky (2–2, 0–2) heads to Athens to face No. 5 Georgia.
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