Entering the Fourth....Its a Cats Narrow Lead

South Carolina 14, Kentucky 17

Kentucky opened up the third quarter with some trickery as they attempted an onside kick. The kick fooled NO ONE as South Carolina recovered and started the half with positive field position. The field position proved to be unusful for the Cocks as they were held to negative yards and missed another field goal for the Cats to maintain the 3 point edge.

In the Wildcats opening drive of the half, they once again gained 12 yards through the air to move the chains. BUT, as had been the case all game, the offense then went back to conservative football and punted within three plays.

On Kentucky’s second offensive drive of the half momentum and condifence seemed to emit from the offense. The running game was able to pick up 3 yards a carry, the offensive line was blocking the pass rush and giving Mike Hartline time to through as well as Mike Hartline succeeded in hitting his targets. Through such offensive execution they were able to eat up more than four minutes of clock. The drive though left the Cats pointless as they superb drive stalled and the kicker missed wide left on a fourty five yard attempt.

In a move of frustration and deperation, Coach Steve Spurrier yanked Chris Smelly out of quarterback and inserted Stephen Garcia. Spurrier’s move to Garcia seemed to be spark the offense early as he was able to scramble around and move the ball down the field successfully. But once a little momentum was gained by the Gamecocks, the defense held their ground and made two CRUCIAL stops. The stops prevented any points to be out on the board as kicker Ryan Succop missed his third field goal attempt of the game.

Both teams seem to be struggling for offensive movement; however it has been the COSTLY GAMECOCK turnovers that have lead to Kentucky’s lead heading into the fourth quarter.