South Carolina produced one of the SEC’s most complete performances of opening weekend, crushing Kent State 57-0 behind an explosive offense and dominant defense.
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Quarterback LaNorris Sellers looked every bit like the veteran leader South Carolina expected. Sellers completed 82.6 percent of his passes and threw three touchdowns despite playing less than three quarters.
The Gamecocks accumulated an enormous 645 yards of total offense, demonstrating balance and explosiveness while rarely allowing Kent State’s defense an opportunity to recover.
South Carolina led only 7-0 after the opening quarter, but the game quickly became a rout. The Gamecocks erupted for 22 points in the second quarter, then added 14 in both the third and fourth periods.
Perhaps even more impressive was the defense. Kent State never scored, giving South Carolina one of the SEC’s opening-week shutouts. Against an opponent South Carolina was expected to beat comfortably, the Gamecocks avoided the defensive lapses that sometimes appear when starters begin leaving a blowout.
Sellers remains the player who can determine South Carolina’s ceiling. His physical ability has never been questioned, but efficiency and consistency will determine whether the Gamecocks can challenge the upper tier of the SEC.
Saturday provided exactly the start Shane Beamer wanted.
There is an obvious warning against drawing sweeping conclusions from a rout of Kent State. SEC defenses won’t give Sellers the same throwing windows, and South Carolina won’t regularly enjoy such a substantial talent advantage.
But there was little to criticize.
