South Carolina Gamecocks stormed to a 50-7 victory over the Akron Zips in a highly anticipated college football clash this Saturday evening, making the crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia roar with delight. In the absence of their regular starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers, Robby Ashford stepped in and showcased a stellar performance leading the Gamecocks to a significant win.
Showing no sign of standing in anyone’s shadow, Ashford completed an impressive 15-of-21 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Besides, he gained 133 more yards on 16 rushing attempts. His 36-yard run to touch down in the beginning of the fourth quarter was a sight worth witnessing, earning him a special spot in the Gamecocks’ hall of fame.
Meanwhile, South Carolina’s defense didn’t drop the ball either, allowing just 51 total yards in the second half while recording two impressive sacks and three tackles for loss. Leading the defense was Demetrius Knight Jr. with three solo tackles and Kyle Kennard with 1.5 tackles for a loss.
In the attack, South Carolina saw great contributions from a string of players. Jawarn Howell scored on a 23-yard run with just four minutes to go, and earlier, tight end Connor Cox caught a 9-yard pass from Davis Beville.
After the emphatic win, the Gamecocks now stand at 3-1 while Akron falls to 1-3 this season. South Carolina looks forward to another thrilling encounter against Ole Miss on October 5, while Akron has a mountain to climb as they look to bounce back against Ohio on September 28.
The highly-anticipated match was broadcast nationally on ESPNU and could be streamed on Fubo and ESPN+. The Gamecock Sports Radio Network had play-by-play voice Todd Ellis and analyst Tommy Suggs in the booth, with sideline reports from Chet Tucker.
The historical record of South Carolina vs. Akron remains in favor of the Gamecocks who won their last encounter on Dec. 1, 2018, with a score of 28-3.
Prior predictions had South Carolina beating Akron with a score of 40-14, which the Gamecocks surpassed, giving bookmakers a run for their money. The betting odds showed a clear favor towards South Carolina with a spread of (-26.5), moneyline at (-3000) to Akron’s (+1300) and an over/under of 41.5.
Despite battling an ankle injury, starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers showed encouraging progress through the week leading up to the match, but ultimately sat out against Akron with Ashford stepping in. The weather cooperated beautifully, with clear skies and a perfect 78-degree night at Williams-Brice Stadium.
As we move ahead in the season, both teams will be looking to bring their A-game to upcoming matches. South Carolina will be gearing up for their October 5 match against Ole Miss in their home ground. Akron, however, has their work cut out as they head to Ohio for their next game on September 28.
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