NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Raheim Sanders ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns and scored a 43-yard TD catch as South Carolina thumped No. 24 Vanderbilt 28-7 Saturday for the Gamecocks’ second straight win over a Top 25 team.
The Gamecocks (6-3, 4-3 Southeastern Conference) followed up their rout of then-No. 10 Texas A&M by going on the road and dominating Vanderbilt (6-4, 3-3). They outgained Vandy 452-274.
The Commodores now have lost 16 straight to their former SEC Eastern Division rival. Worse, this was their biggest loss this season after losing their first three games by a combined 10 points — two of those to teams ranked inside the Top 10.
LaNorris Sellers helped South Carolina control possession against a Vanderbilt offense leads the SEC in time of possession. Sellers threw for 238 yards and two TDs. He gave the Gamecocks a 7-0 halftime with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Joshua Simon.
South Carolina went up 14-0 to start the third after Sellers escaped a would-be sack and found Jared Brown for a 51-yard completion. Sanders ran 33 yards for the TD and the double-digit lead.
Diego Pavia, the AP’s top first-year transfer in the SEC halfway through the season, tried to rally Vanderbilt after a 17-yard TD run in the third to pull within 14-7.
Sanders’ 1-yard TD late in the third and 43-yard TD catch with 7:55 left put the game on ice.
Pavia threw for 166 yards and added 65 yards and a touchdown on the ground. He was hurt with about 6:40 left on a 28-yard completion wiped out by offensive pass interference.
This will end Vanderbilt’s second week inside the Top 25, but South Carolina made its case to move into the rankings.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks won their third SEC road game for the first time since 2011, adding to wins at Kentucky and Oklahoma.
Offensive Coordinator Dowell Loggains and Defensive Coordinator Clayton White met with members of the media following Wednesday's practice, as the Gamecocks prepare for Saturday's road trip to face #24 Vanderbilt
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