Rescued in Raleigh: Defense keys USC win

From The State

USC offense fails to put game away, but Wolfpack offense can't get past swarm of talent
By JOSEPH PERSON
jperson@thestate.com

RALEIGH — Throughout the preseason, South Carolina assistant head coach Ellis Johnson marveled at the speed and athleticism of his young defense. What Johnson was less certain about was how the newcomers would respond to adversity.

Now he knows.

With the game in the balance Thursday night, the Gamecocks’ defense came up with a pair of key, fourth-quarter stops to turn back N.C. State in a hard-earned 7-3 victory before a crowd of 57,583 at Carter-Finley Stadium.

USC won its 10th consecutive season opener, although this one was much closer than last year’s 34-0 shutout of the Wolfpack in Columbia.

It marked USC’s first victory when scoring under 10 points since a 7-3 decision at Memphis State on Oct. 2, 1971.

When the Gamecocks’ offense and field goal unit failed to put the game away, the defense came through to push Steve Spurrier’s record to 19-1 in season-opening games.

Spurrier was grateful, giving the defense a standing ovation in the locker room and presenting game balls to a number of defensive players.

“Our defensive guys played their hearts out,” Spurrier said. “Played good, solid football.”

USC’s two defensive captains — linebacker Eric Norwood and defensive end Cliff Matthews — each had two sacks and were instrumental in keeping State quarterback Russell Wilson in check.

Wilson, the ACC’s offensive player of the year in 2008, had several scrambles where it looked like he was going to break off a long gain, only to be run down by Norwood, Matthews or linebacker Shaq Wilson.

Wilson, who replaced Rodney Paulk after Paulk sustained what is believed to be a season-ending knee injury, tied Norwood for the team high in tackles with eight stops in the most extensive action of his career.

USC sacked Wilson six times and held him to minus-17 yards rushing.

“We couldn’t get anything going,” N.C. State coach Tom O’Brien said. “And with our pass protection, we had Russell Wilson running around too much.”

USC defensive end Devin Taylor, a redshirt freshman from Beaufort who replaced the suspended Clifton Geathers, had a huge impact in his first career start. Taylor forced a fumble on N.C. State’s first play from scrimmage to set up USC’s lone touchdown, and later blocked a punt in Wolfpack territory.

A year after limiting State to 138 total yards and 10 first downs, USC’s defense nearly duplicated its performance by holding the Wolfpack to 133 yards and 11 first downs. And while his unit took a couple of personnel hits in the secondary, Johnson believes this year’s defense is faster than last year’s.

“Speed always helps,” Johnson said. “Recovery speed is something you can’t coach.”

USC clung to a four-point lead in the fourth quarter as a result of several missed scoring opportunities. A touchdown pass to Tori Gurley was nullified because of a pass interference call on Gurley, and the Gamecocks also blew two field goal chances — one on a bad snap and the other a missed 27-yard attempt by Spencer Lanning.

After the Wolfpack drove to the USC 38-yard line midway through the fourth quarter, defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward and defensive line coach Brad Lawing told Spurrier they wanted a timeout. Defensive players caught their breaths, switched from a four-man to a three-man front, and held the Wolfpack to 2 yards on three plays after the timeout, forcing a punt.

But State had another shot after Rashard Smith’s 31-yard punt return gave the Wolfpack possession at midfield with 4:15 remaining. Wilson started to pick on USC freshman cornerback Stephon Gilmore, whose pass-interference penalty moved the ‘Pack to the 32-yard line.

Facing a fourth-and-11 four plays later, State took a timeout. Walking back on the field, USC defensive tackle Travian Robertson told Gilmore that Russell was going to come after him again.

“I got your back,” Gilmore told him.

As Wilson lofted a pass into the end zone for Jarvis Williams, Gilmore jumped up and pulled the ball away from Williams for a game-saving breakup.

Gilmore said he knew State would throw his way. “But I like stuff like that,” he said, “so I just had to make a big play on the ball.”

Big plays were the norm for a young defense that grew up a lot in the year’s first test.

Gameday preview: USC vs. N.C. State

From The State

By JOSEPH PERSON
jperson@thestate.com

Five storylines for South Carolina’s season-opener Thursday against N.C. State; Q&A with safety Chris Culliver; and more.

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Five storylines

1. Can Stephen Garcia stick to the game plan?

The Gamecocks thumped North Carolina State last year despite four interceptions by starting quarterback Tommy Beecher. USC cannot expect to win if Garcia does the same this year. Steve Spurrier still will take chances downfield. What he does not want to see is Garcia abandoning the pocket and throwing “wildly tossed” interceptions. Garcia needs to stay calm, go through his reads, and throw the ball away if nothing develops.

2. Opening-game success

USC has won its past nine openers, including last year’s 34-0 victory against the Wolfpack. Spurrier is 18-1 in season-opening games as a college coach, with the lone loss coming against USC in 1989 during his final season at Duke. The Gamecocks’ defense has come strong in four openers under Spurrier, posting two shutouts and allowing just more than a touchdown a game.

3. USC’s offensive line vs. the Wolfpack’s veteran front

N.C. State starts four seniors on its defensive line, including ends Willie Young and Shea McKeen, a member of Spurrier’s first USC recruiting class who left after a series of off-the-field incidents. The ’Pack sacked Beecher five times last season. If the Gamecocks cannot protect Garcia, it will be a long night for the USC offense.

4. The Gamecocks’ depleted D-line

With half of its starting defensive front suspended, USC will turn to a number of untested linemen. Redshirt freshman Devin Taylor will start in place of Clifton Geathers at end, while the absence of tackle Ladi Ajiboye means Melvin Ingram will see significant playing time.

5. Russell Wilson’s accurate arm

The Wolfpack quarterback has thrown 249 consecutive passes without being picked off — a school record and the longest active streak in the country. Wilson, who sustained a concussion early in a 34-0 loss to USC last year, was picked off once in 2008 — in the second half against Clemson on Sept. 13.

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Five questions with Chris Culliver

The Gamecocks’ free safety went to high school in suburban Raleigh, and might have been on the N.C. State sideline Thursday night if not for the Wolfpack’s coaching change a few years ago. Culliver will start at safety, but could get reps at cornerback, as well.

How have you liked corner?

Corner’s been good. Coach (Lorenzo Ward) wanted me to play corner real bad. I’m up for whatever — corner, safety. Whatever to help my team out is what I have to do.

Which do you think is your better position?

I like playing safety because I can see everything. But as far as playing corner, it’s real good to lock down the receiver. If the ball comes to him, I just try to make a play.

Were you an N.C. State fan?

No, because I wasn’t really raised there. I was raised in Philadelphia.

Did State come after you hard?

Yeah, I was actually committed to them. But then I de-committed. Chuck Amato had left and all that stuff. So I decided to go elsewhere, and (USC is) the best place for me.

Think you would have gone there if Chuck the Chest had stayed?

It’s a possibility. He was on me pretty hard. So it’s a possibility.

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Injury Report

USC — WR Dion LeCorn (leg) and CB Jay Spearman (shoulder) are out; WR DeMario Bennett (shoulder) is probable.

N.C. State — TE Mario Carter (knee), OL Denzelle Good (shoulder), LB Nate Irving (leg), FB Colby Jackson (knee) and QB Everett Proctor (shoulder) are out.

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Game Within the Game: USC OT Jarriel King vs. NCS DE Willie Young

--- About King: The North Charleston native was a part of Steve Spurrier’s first USC recruiting class in 2005, but did not make it to campus until last year. He was inserted into the lineup the second week of the season, and ended up starting 11 games. King underwent surgery during the offseason to correct an irregular heartbeat.

How he’ll win the matchup: The 6-foot-5, 312-pound King should be in good shape if he is able to lock out his long arms on Young. He might get occasional help from a tight end, but the job of protecting Stephen Garcia’s blind side will fall largely on King.

Key number: 3, number of former Georgia Military offensive lineman on USC’s roster (Rokevious Watkins, Steven Singleton).

--- About Young: The 24-year-old Young, the oldest player on the Wolfpack’s roster, graduated in May. Young is the ACC’s active leader in tackles for loss (31.5) and sacks (12.5). He collected 1.5 of his team-leading 6.5 sacks in 2008 against USC.

How he’ll win the matchup: The 6-4, 250-pound Young gave the Gamecocks fits last year with his size and speed on the edge. Young will line up at either end position, but figures to spend a lot of the game lined up across from King. If he can get a step on King, he should be able to turn the corner and go after Garcia.

Key number: 9; espn.com recently rated Young the ACC’s ninth-best player.