(9) AUBURN 23, SOUTH CAROLINA 6
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Dameyune Craig was 24-of-39 for 321 yards and
two touchdowns and the defense did not allow a touchdown as No. 9
Auburn claimed a 23-6 Southeastern Conference victory over South
Carolina. Auburn (5-0, 3-0 SEC West) took the lead for good, 7-3,
when Craig hit Karsten Bailey with a 36-yard scoring strike 34
seconds into the second quarter. Craig, who broke 300 yards for
the third contest in a row, has thrown at least one touchdown
pass in a school-record 10 straight games.
Bailey caught six passes for 99 yards, marking the first time
this season Auburn has not featured a 100-yard receiver. Tyrone
Goodson added five catches for 65 yards.
"This was a good win, not a pretty win," said Auburn coach Terry
Bowden. "It wasn't a case of they died and we didn't. ...
Carolina has a great quarterback, but our quarterback has the
ability to make big things happen a little more."
The Auburn defense registered six sacks for 66 yards and held
South Carolina to minus-3 rushing yards. The Tigers held a
385-198 advantage in total yardage.
"The defense ... gave a great performance," said Bowden. "Good
pressure on their quarterback helped us against a great South
Carolina game plan. This was a great defensive day at Auburn. We
stopped the run and didn't let them get into the end zone. This
was one of the best defensive performances that we've had."
Anthony Wright was 20-of-35 for 178 yards for South Carolina
(2-3, 0-3 SEC East). South Carolina jumped to a 3-0 lead 5:30
into the game on a 44-yard field goal by Steve Florio. Florio
also hit from 29 yards less then a minute before the half.
Craig, who was intercepted once, found Goodson for an 8-yard
touchdown with 8:10 left in the third quarter as the Tigers built
the lead to 14-6. On the first score, Craig sent a bullet over
the middle of the field that Bailey grabbed after shaking off a
defender. The toss to Goodson was a swing to the right side that
the receiver caught at the USC 4-yard line and ran in.
The Tigers increased the lead to 10 points 1:13 into the fourth
quarter with a safety. With Auburn driving, Craig was picked off
by cornerback Homer Torrance at the South Carolina 13. But
Torrance fumbled the ball away before the Gamecocks covered it in
their own end zone to give Auburn two points.
"That's the kind of way games seem to be going for us," said
South Carolina coach Brad Scott. "We get the interception, then
fumble it for a safety. Everybody is frustrated."
(9) Auburn 23, SOUTH CAROLINA 6
1 2 3 4 F
- - - - --
Auburn (9) 0 7 7 9 23
South Carolina 3 3 0 0 6
South Carolina-FG Florio 44
Auburn-Bailey 36 pass from Craig (Holmes kick)
South Carolina-FG Florio 29
Auburn-Goodson 8 pass from Craig (Holmes kick)
Auburn-Safety, Torrance tackled in end zone
Auburn-F Beasley 1 run (Holmes kick)
Auburn South Carolina
First downs 18 13
Rushed-yards 26-64 31-M3
Passing yards 321 201
Sacked-yards lost 3-25 6-66
Return yards 9 22
Passes 24-39-1 22-39-0
Punts 6-36.3 7-48.6
Fumbles-lost 2-2 3-2
Penalties-yards 4-30 3-20
Time of possession 27:46 32:14
Individual Statistics
RUSHING: Auburn-F Beasley 6-33, R Williams 10-25, Leard 1-10,
Pennington 2-4, Embery 1-0, Craig 6-minus 8. South Carolina-T
Hambrick 9-25, Bush 5-14, B Williams 2-9, Hood 2-2, Mixon 1-0,
Moritz 1-0, Penn 2-minus 5, Wright 9-minus 48.
PASSING: Auburn-Craig 24-39-1-321. South Carolina-Wright
20-35-0-178, Penn 2-4-0-23.
RECEIVING: Auburn-Bailey 6-99, Goodson 5-65, R Williams 4-52,
Robinson 3-20, Poor 2-40, Mcleod 1-37, F Beasley 1-9, Lowe 1-6,
Pennington 1-minus 7. South Carolina-T Hambrick 8-32, Fleming Jr
3-65, Hood 3-26, B Williams 3-18, Kelly 2-47, Mixon 1-11, Owens
1-3, Moritz 1-minus 1.
Att: 79,411
Courtesy: InfoBeat Sports