| The 3-1 Gamecocks hosted a 2-2 N.C. State squad on this day and needed a second half rally to get their fourth win of the season. USC found themselves down 3-0 at the half as the Wolfpack dominated the game behind the running of Charlie Bowers, who picked up 94 yards in 16 carries in the first half alone. The Gamecocks could only muster a pair of missed field goals in the opening two quarters. State pushed its lead to 10-0 in the third quarter when Leon Mason scored on a two-yard run and it was looking like Carolina might not get its offense going all day. Fortunately sophomore Dickie Harris was back to take the ensuing kickoff, and his 44-yard return gave the offense some life. Tommy Suggs hooked up with running back Rudy Holloman for completions of 15 and 23 yards to move the Gamecocks in close and Billy Ray Rice finished things off with a one-yard touchdown run. State was forced to punt and Carolina's Jim Mitchell sped through the Wolfpack for a 72-yard punt return touchdown to give USC its first lead of the game. State was forced to punt again and Mitchell returned this one 20 yards. Suggs then drove the Gamecocks 71 yards, connecting three times with Holloman, once for 17 yards to Tom Trevilian and once for 7 to Fred Zeigler to get down to the State 10 yardline. Three rushes from Warren Muir from there resulted in a Carolina touchdown and a 21-10 lead. After an exchange of punts State made a final late rally, with Darrell Moody tossing a three yard touchdown pass to Wayne Lewis to get it to 21-16. Moody's pass for a two-point conversion was intercepted by USC's Pat Watson and the ensuing onside kick was recovered by Gamecock defensive end Joe Wingard to salt things away. Coach Paul Dietzel didn't seem fazed by the slow start. 'I was real proud of how the team kept hanging in there. Being down 10-0 made it hard to come back...These kids work hard, do their jobs and pay the price. They deserve to be winners.'; |