COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina needed less than a half to put to rest any worries that it would follow its latest big victory with another letdown.
Marcus Lattimore had three touchdowns and 102 yards rushing by halftime to lead the 17th-ranked Gamecocks to a 69-24 victory, its biggest point total under Steve Spurrier and the most it has scored in 15 years.
“We knew we had to come out and play and we did that,” Lattimore said.
A month ago, the Gamecocks were the talk of college football after stunning then top-ranked Alabama 35-21. They were the sport’s main topic a week later, too, when they blew a 28-10 halftime lead to lose at Kentucky.
Before Saturday’s game, many at Williams-Brice Stadium wondered, would the SEC East champions lay another egg against Troy?
“Yeah, that’s what we talked about all week,” Lattimore said. “Just show our fans we can play two games straight because we didn’t do that last time.”
There’s likely little chance of letdowns ahead for South Carolina, who face bitter rival Clemson next Saturday and then No. 2 Auburn in the SEC title game on Dec. 4.
“I feel like our guys will be ready to give it their best shot. That’s all we can ask of them,” Spurrier said. “It’s a lot more fun when there’s a lot on the line.”
The Gamecocks (8-3) clinched a spot in the title game with last week’s 36-14 victory at Florida, the program’sfirst victory at Gainesville, Fla., in 13 tries.
Lattimore and the Gamecocks ended any doubts Saturday early as he scored on runs of 17, 8 and 5 yards for a 21-0 lead less than 7 minutes in.
The touchdown surge gave Lattimore 19 for the year, surpassing Harold Green’s 16 for South Carolina’s single-season mark. Lattimore also moved one touchdown away from the SEC freshman record of 20 set by Tennessee’s Reggie Cobb in 1987.
Troy (5-5) had five turnovers, all of which led to touchdowns.
Stephen Garcia threw two touchdowns and ran for a third. Even the defense chipped in with safety D.J. Swearinger and defensive end Chaz Sutton both running interceptions back for touchdowns.
Sutton’s was a 56-yard bolt as the second quarter ended and put South Carolina ahead 56-7, believed to be the most points the Gamecocks ever scored in a half.
Sports, Pages 35 on 11/21/2010