South Carolina's offense finally came alive.
Gamecocks quarterback Stephen Garcia completed three huge passes, including a 43-yard touchdown pass to Alshon Jeffery to give South Carolina the lead early in the fourth. Garcia finished with 313 yards with two touchdowns.
Down 14-10 in the fourth, Vanderbilt put together a strong final drive but just couldn't convert. With the drive on the line, Larry Smith connected with tight end Brandon Barden for a 43-yard completion. Grounding and imcomplete passes did the Commodores in after that, though, and gave South Carolina the game.
Earlier in the game, Warren Norman became the first player in Vanderbilt history to run back two kick returns for touchdowns in a season.
Norman's 99-yard return came immediately after the Gamecocks scored on a controversial 35-yard D.L. Moore reception. The reception went under review to determine whether Moore had possession when his feet touched the ground before stepping out.
After the half, Vanderbilt's defense and special teams iced down South Carolina to give Vandy some of the best field position of the game.
A 57-yard Brett Upson punt was downed at the South Carolina 1-yardline after Vanderbilt's first drive of the half. The defense forced a three and out and a South Carolina punt put Vandy on the USC 44. Seven plays later, Vandy's Ryan Fowler kicked the go ahead field goal.
Late in the first and early second quarter, Vanderbilt put together one of its stronger drives of the season, spanning 16 plays and 72 yards. TE Brandon Barden, however, dropped a would-be touchdown pass, then followed up by a missed 26-yard field goal attempt by Fowler.
