South Carolina went back to work this week after a gut-wrenching 31-30 loss to third-ranked Texas A&M.
The Gamecocks (3-7) led 30-3 at the half before a second-half collapse led to their demise.
Now, they will aim to bounce back Saturday at home against a Coastal Carolina (6-4) team that had been on a roll before last weekend’s 45-40 loss to Georgia Southern.
“Like always, we went out (Sunday night) and had an awesome practice,” Gamecocks head coach Shane Beamer said Tuesday. “Our guys responded just like I knew they would respond.”
The Gamecocks, who were on the verge of the College Football Playoff last year, have dropped five games in a row, while the Chanticleers come in as winners of four of their last five.
Coastal Carolina’s four-game win streak ended despite 482 yards of offense and their fourth straight game with 40-plus points.
Quarterbacks Tad Hudson and Samari Collier helped fuel the Chanticleers last week, combining for 270 yards of total offense.
Coastal Carolina’s offensive attack, which averages 348.4 yards per game, is one of the biggest focal points for the Gamecocks, who are allowing 360.1 yards per game.
“They present a lot of problems from a schematic standpoint,” Beamer said. “… They’re running the heck out of the football. They’ve used three quarterbacks this year. All three quarterbacks are a threat with their legs. They’re really deep at receiver.”
Coastal Carolina coach Tim Beck knows his Sun Belt squad will have its hands full playing an SEC team this late in the year.
“Getting a chance to watch them, they are an extremely talented team, and Coach Beamer is a tremendous football coach,” Beck said. “We have to play our football on offense. We’ve got to be able to run the football. We’ve got to be able to make the plays on third down when we have to stay on the field and we cannot turn the ball over.”
LaNorris Sellers leads the Gamecocks, ranked 15th among Southeastern Conference quarterbacks with 1,782 yards, along with nine touchdowns and six interceptions.
South Carolina enters Saturday’s game last in the SEC in yards per game (303.5) and points per game (20.7).
