South Carolina 35, Alabama 21: Gamecocks Pull Off Upset Of Top-Ranked Tide

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Columbia, SC (Sports Network) - South Carolina pulled off its first ever win over the top-ranked team in the country, as Stephen Garcia threw three touchdowns to help the 19th-ranked Gamecocks topple the defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide, 35-21, at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The Gamecocks (4-1, 2-1 SEC) had two weeks to prepare for an Alabama program riding a 19-game win streak, and the extra rest paid off for a defense that recorded seven sacks and held the Tide’s vaunted running game to 36 yards.

Garcia, who was a perfect 9-of-9 for 94 yards and three scores en route to a 21-9 halftime lead, wound up 17-of-20 for 201 yards in the upset win.

Alshon Jeffery was Garcia’s primary target, catching seven passes for 127 yards and two TDs, including a sensational one-handed grab that went for 45 yards to set up a pivotal score midway through the fourth quarter.

Marcus Lattimore rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns in South Carolina’s signature win under head coach Steve Spurrier, who moved into second place on the all-time SEC wins list.

Mark Ingram, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner who gashed the Gamecocks 246 yards on the ground last year, was bottled up for 41 yards on 11 carries.

Greg McElroy completed 27-of-34 passes for 315 yards and two scores for ‘Bama (5-1, 2-1). McElroy had not lost as a starting quarterback since eighth grade.