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Sept. 6, 2003
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By PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Dondrial Pinkins threw a 99-yard touchdown pass toTroy Williamson – the longest in South Carolina history – to lead the Gamecockspast No. 15 Virginia 31-7 on Saturday.
Pinkins added a 5-yard touchdown run and Daccus Turman had 123 yards rushingand a touchdown for South Carolina (2-0), which defeated a ranked opponent forthe first time since beating then-No. 22 Ohio State 31-28 in the 2002 OutbackBowl.
With senior quarterback Matt Schaub on the sideline with a separated rightshoulder, the Cavaliers (1-1) were out of sync on offense. Schaub’sreplacement, freshman Anthony Martinez, was rattled all game by SouthCarolina’s defense. He threw two interceptions and muffed a handoff with AlvinPearman that set up Turman’s score.
Virginia managed only 17 yards passing in the first half and just 9 yardsrushing in the second half. Overall, the Cavaliers were outgained 423-170.
The game changed for good, though, when South Carolina struck for itsrecord-setting touchdown play.
The Cavaliers, up 7-3 in the second quarter, had not permitted a SouthCarolina first down in its previous five defensive series and had just downed apunt at the Gamecocks 1 to set Pinkins up for more problems.
But on the first snap, Pinkins dropped back into his end zone and hitWilliamson on the run as he cut left toward the center of the field. Williamsoncaught it near the 15, then edged past cornerback Jamaine Winborne and was gonefor the touchdown. Williamson knelt with his head bowed in the left corner ofthe end zone as teammates and fans at Williams-Brice Stadium celebrated wildly.
The play broke South Carolina’s old mark of 97 yards, thrown by Todd Ellisto Robert Brooks in a win over East Carolina in 1988. It also tied theSoutheastern Conference mark set by Florida’s Cris Collinsworth on a pass toDerrick Gaffney against Rice in 1977.
It may have crushed Virginia’s spirit.
Martinez and the Cavaliers got the ball back twice more in the quarter butwent three-and-out both times. Things didn’t get much better in the secondhalf. Jeremiah Garrison’s interception ended one Virginia drive in the thirdquarter. Pearman bobbled a handoff from Martinez and Moe Thompson recovered forSouth Carolina to stop another on the Virginia 11.
Turman, the first Gamecock to rush for 100 yards since quarterback CoreyJenkins had 101 in a loss to Georgia 12 games ago, put things out of reach twoplays later with his 6-yard scoring run.
Virginia’s Martinez ended 10-of-20 for 54 yards until he was replaced latein the fourth quarter by David deLaureal.