South Carolina Gamecocks: Five Keys to Beating Mizzou

But, this time, it turned out well.

With Missouri announcing Tuesday that Mauk had been suspended for disciplinary reasons, Drew Lock will make his first collegiate start and join the Gamecocks’ Lorenzo Nunez in a battle of true freshman quarterbacks.

The Tigers host No. 25 Florida next Saturday in the school’s 104th homecoming.

The Missouri Tigers are 3-1 but lost its only SEC game to Kentucky last week 21-13. Ish Witter had 17 rushes for 98 yards and his first touchdown of the season.

Whether the junior wide receiver from Havelock, North Carolina, is catching passes, running the ball or lining up under center, he’s been leaving his opponents in the dust.

Steve Spurrier has two things he did not a week ago – a victory South Carolina can build from and hope that freshman quarterback Lorenzo Nunez can lead the Gamecocks to success. In three appearances, the quarterback leads the Gamecocks with 239 rushing yards on 30 attempts.

So different that Spurrier has begun delegating play calls, something he said over the offseason that he would do less of. “I did better in the second half”. With Mitch sidelined by a separated shoulder and the more dynamic Nunez in the game, the differences extend even to the communications between coaches in the box and on the sideline. “When he has played, he’s looked very poised”. “He’d take off, certainly, in passing situations”. Towles had a few key runs to extend drives and scored on a 14-yard run.

“Hats off to our offensive line and our running backs”, Lock said. “That’s just part of being the athletic player he is, just making plays when you don’t have the ball”. He completed his first three passes but for no yardage as South Carolina defenders swallowed up his receivers behind the line of scrimmage on two of his first three completions. Blair has missed the last two games and will not play Saturday.

The Tigers’ defense could be without linebacker Kentrell Brothers, the nation’s leading tackler. McGovern is Mizzou’s left tackle but moved inside to his natural position for the goal-line formation. As expected tight end Sean Culkin (knee), wideout DeSean Blair (concussion) and right tackle Nate Crawford (ankle) are not in uniform.

But the Knights will face the Gamecocks at one of their weakest points in recent history. “No matter what we have to overcome, we’re going to keep fighting”. “That’s all you can say”. “He goes, ‘Man, I’ve always trusted you guys”.

The Gamecocks’ previous trip to Faurot Field resulted in perhaps the Tigers’ most devastating loss since joining the SEC.

The game between Missouri and South Carolina will be televised on the SEC Network with kickoff inside of Memorial Stadium scheduled for 11a Connecticut. The game was then-redshirt freshman Mauk’s second start. He doesn’t really get rattled that much, and he is a gamer.

South Carolina really needed its victory over struggling UCF last week, and won the game handily 31-14.

They ran the ball better and converted more third downs.