TotalCast Stats!
Eastern Michigan's John White (34) is taken down by South Carolina's Andre Offing during the first
quarter Saturday night, Sept. 16, 2000, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Lou
Krasky) |
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) (September 16, 2000) -- Eastern Michigan lost in Columbia, S.C. 41-6 to the Gamecocks of South Carolina.
Derek Watson ran for a career-high 215 yards and three
touchdowns for South Carolina.
South Carolina got off to a shaky start, including a fumble on its first play and an
errant snap, before scoring two touchdowns in 20 seconds and 24 points total in
the second quarter.
The Eagles (1-2) took advantage of Ryan Brewer's fumble on South Carolina's first play
to set up a 45-yard field goal by Toller Starnes.
But after that, the Gamecocks offense took over, propelling the team to heights never
imagined during their 0-11 season in 1999. South Carolina has scored 93
points in three games, six more than the Gamecocks had last year.
South Carolina's Derek Watson, center, is chased by Eastern Michigan's Elliot Daniels (56) and Ken
Philpot (22) during the first quarter Saturday night, Sept. 16, 2000, at Williams-Brice Stadium in
Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Lou Krasky) |
Watson has become the Gamecocks' biggest weapon. He has rushed for 435 yards in three games,
surpassing his total of 394 yards in all of 1999. Watson also
has run for seven touchdowns this season, three more than the team had all of last year.
James Adkisson's eight catches for 100 yards balanced the Gamecocks' attack. Phil Petty
was 19-for-30 for 240 yards, and the Gamecocks also got an 80-yard
scoring run by Trevin Smith.
Eagles quarterback Walter Church continues to chase Charlie Batch's school record for
passing yards. His 111 yards through the air leaves him 232 yards short of
Batch's 7,592 career passing yards.
Watson and Adkisson accounted for all but 10 of the 64 yards in the Gamecocks' first
scoring drive. Watson had a 32-yard run on the drive that ended with
Andrew Pinnock's 6-yard run.
On the next play from scrimmage, South Carolina linebacker Kenneth Harvey yanked
the ball from Eagles running back Ashantti Watson and made a one-armed
fumble recovery.
Watson gave South Carolina a 14-3 lead on a 16-yard run.
A 7-yard touchdown run by Watson and a 22-yard field goal by Reid Bethea gave the
Gamecocks a 24-3 lead at halftime.
Starnes kicked a 23-yard field goal for Eastern Michigan and Bethea had a 37-yard field
goal for the Gamecocks in the fourth quarter.