NCAAF

Akron Zips at South Carolina Gamecocks

· NCAA - Football
1-3, 0-3 Away
Final
7 - 50

Robby Ashford throws for two touchdowns and runs for a third in South Carolina's 50-7 win over Akron

Highlight: South Carolina's Ashford, Adaway III zip past Akron

The Gamecocks opened 3-1 for the first time since 2017 as they bounced back from squandering a 17-0 lead over No. 16 LSU last week to lose 36-33 in the final two minutes.

“Obviously, this was a tough week, coming off last week,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said. “We certainly had a bitter disappointment last week, but our guys responded the right way.”

Particularly Ashford, who started 10 games over two seasons at Auburn before transferring, making good on Beamer’s vow that multiple Gamecock quarterbacks could win games if given the chance.

“Been through a lot of ups and downs in my career and it’s taught me a lot,” Ashford said. “None of this would have been possible without my teammates. They let me know from the jump, ‘Hey, we got confidence in you.’”

Ashford finished with 243 yards passing, including scoring throws of 30 yards to Mazeo Bennett and 12 yards to JuJu McDowell. Ashford also ran for a game-high 133 yards with a scoring run of 36 yards.

Oscar Adaway, playing when starting tailback Raheim Sanders left the game early with an injury, had a pair of two-yard scoring runs.

Ashford was 15-of-21 passing. With many in the stadium and watching from home expecting the Gamecocks (3-1) to make their living on the ground, Ashford instead was able to unsheathe the Gamecocks’ previously anonymous receiving game.

“I’m beyond proud of him. His number was called and he went out there and did what he was supposed to do,” Bennett said of Ashford.

Bennett, a freshman receiver, had five catches for 71 yards.

Akron (1-3) was led by 110 passing yards from Ben Finley, who threw for one TD but also had an interception. The Gamecocks’ defense held the Zips to 154 yards.

“These are the games where dominant teams be dominant,” South Carolina defensive end Kyle Kennard said. "If you claim to be the kind of defense we claim to be, these are the games where there’s no question.”

The Gamecocks also finished with zero turnovers, which was a concern over their first three games.

Akron posted its lone score just before halftime, running six plays for 70 yards and Adrian Norton finishing with a 42-yard pass for a touchdown. Ashford couldn’t handle a snap on fourth-and-short on the ensuing drive to squelch an opportunity, and with the Zips getting the ball first in the second half, a 22-7 lead could have been further whittled.

But the Gamecocks forced a punt, then forced another before Adaway collected his second touchdown. Third-string QB Davis Beville threw his first South Carolina touchdown to backup tight end Connor Cox while S.C. State transfer Jawarn Howell had a 23-yard rushing TD.

Takeaways Akron: It was a game needed for the ledger. The Zips pocketed $1.5 million from South Carolina to come to Columbia. The Mid-American Conference schedule will decide the season.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks were able to find another dimension with their offense, even with a top part of it mostly sidelined. The next two weeks of recovery will be key to how they prepare for their next opponent, Top-10 Ole Miss.

Injury updates South Carolina's Beamer expects Sellers to be ready with another two weeks to go before facing a top-five opponent in Ole Miss. The coach also said that the injury to tailback Sanders, who wore a boot on his left ankle, was “nothing long term.”

Up Next Akron opens Mid-American Conference play at Ohio on Saturday.

South Carolina has next week off before facing No. 5 Mississippi at home on Oct. 5.

—-

How To Watch

How can I watch Akron Zips vs. South Carolina Gamecocks?
  • TV Channel: Zips at Gamecocks 2021 College Football, week 4, is broadcasted on ESPNU.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Gamecocks: 94.3%
Zips: 5.7%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

SC TD 1st Period 5:19 Oscar Adaway III 2 Yd Run (Alex Herrera Kick)
SC TD 1st Period 0:53 Mazeo Bennett Jr. 30 Yd pass from Robby Ashford (Kai Kroeger Run for Two-Point Conversion)
SC TD 2nd Period 4:28 Juju McDowell 12 Yd pass from Robby Ashford (Alex Herrera Kick)
AKR TD 2nd Period 1:53 Adrian Norton 42 Yd pass from Ben Finley (Garrison Smith Kick)
SC TD 3rd Period 5:02 Oscar Adaway III 2 Yd Run (Alex Herrera Kick)
SC TD 4th Period 13:14 Robby Ashford 36 Yd Run (Alex Herrera Kick)
SC TD 4th Period 8:14 Connor Cox 9 Yd pass from Davis Beville (Alex Herrera Kick)
SC TD 4th Period 4:03 Jawarn Howell 23 Yd Run (Alex Herrera Kick)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2006.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originAKR https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/2579.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originSC
9 1st Downs 27
3-13 3rd down efficiency 5-14
0-0 4th down efficiency 4-5
154 Total Yards 549
117 Passing 276
16/30 Comp/Att 19/27
3.9 Yards per pass 10.2
37 Rushing 273
21 Rushing Attempts 53
1.8 Yards per rush 5.2
6-55 Penalties 7-70
1 Turnovers 1
0 Fumbles lost 1
1 Interceptions thrown 0
23:57 Possession 36:03

Game Information

Williams-Brice Stadium

Location: Columbia, SC
Attendance: 78,704 · Capacity:
Full Standings

College Football News

What will determine the winner of UGA vs. Texas in second meeting?

What will determine the winner of UGA vs. Texas in second meeting?

The SEC Now crew looks back on the Bulldogs and the Longhorns' Week 8 meeting and gives advice on how to succeed in a game that will reward its winner with a first-round bye in the CFP.

Breaking down film from Georgia and Texas' first matchup this season

Breaking down film from Georgia and Texas' first matchup this season

SEC Network analysts Matt Stinchcomb and Randall Cobb pick apart the Longhorns' pass protection scheme against the Bulldogs defensive front in their Week 8 matchup.

Season in Review: Looking back on a crazy year of SEC football

Season in Review: Looking back on a crazy year of SEC football

SEC Now's Randall Cobb and Matt Stinchcomb share their SEC football season superlatives for best storyline, best coaching job, best game, best turnaround and best season.

Reaction to CFP rankings as some teams' playoff hopes are shattered

Reaction to CFP rankings as some teams' playoff hopes are shattered

The SEC Now crew debates who should be ranked higher or lower in the latest edition of the CFP rankings as some SEC bubble teams are left on the outside looking in.

ACC hoping CFP committee will 'reconsider' Miami's ranking

ACC hoping CFP committee will 'reconsider' Miami's ranking

After Alabama snuck into the coveted No. 11 spot ahead of Miami, as announced on ESPN's CFP rankings release show Tuesday, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said the league was "incredibly shocked and disappointed," adding the Hurricanes "deserve better."