It was not one for the scrapbook, but South Carolina squeaked out an ugly win over Vanderbilt on Saturday night in a game marred by injuries to both sides.

The Gamecocks overcame 11 penalties as they kept the sluggish Vanderbilt offense in check after the first quarter. Without one of their top running backs (Rico Dowdle) and No. 2 wide receiver (Shi Smith), South Carolina did just enough offensively to pull away from the Commodores, 24-7.

WR Bryan Edwards blew away his career high in catches (10) as he finished with 14 for 139 yards and a touchdown. Edwards caught a 25-yard touchdown to help the Gamecock faithful exhale with 6:39 remaining. After Vanderbilt scored midway through the first quarter, South Carolina had two touchdowns in the second quarter, and 10 points in the fourth to get the win.

South Carolina improved to 4-5, while Vanderbilt dropped to 2-6.

Without starting QB Riley Neal, who left the game late in the first quarter with an apparent injury, the Vanderbilt offense sputtered. But late in the third quarter, the Commodores appeared to get new life when the defense stopped South Carolina on fourth down. But that momentum didn’t last long as Deuce Wallace was soon intercepted by R.J. Roderick. The Commodores had 95 yards after the first quarter, and just 149 yards by the end of the third quarter.

The first half was a struggle for both teams. They combined to have five different players take a snap and ten different players have carried the ball. Both teams searching for something to click.

For South Carolina, Smith did not play because of injury, and freshman Xavier Legette was inserted in Smith’s spot in the lineup. That left South Carolina with one wide receiver who has more than 18 catches this year. Legette delivered with his first touchdown catch midway through the first half. It was a 20-yard catch on third down and capped an eight-play drive. That pulled the Gamecocks into a tie after boos came down from Williams-Brice Stadium as the home team had a fumble and two punts on earlier possessions.

The Gamecocks came to life late in the first half when RB Kevin Harris scored on a one-yard touchdown to end a 13-play drive. It was a surprising return for Harris, who tore a tendon off his pubic bone and was expected to be out for the season after the Missouri game. By that point in the game, the Gamecocks found success on third down and were 5-for-7 while averaging six yards per play.

Vanderbilt scored on an 11-play drive on its first possession as Neal hit Cam Johnson for a 26-yard touchdown also on third down. Neal only got the start after Mo Hasan was ruled out of the game as he’s in concussion protocol. Wallace and Allan Walters were the other QBs who made the trip. The Commodores were also without leading WR Kalija Lipscomb, who suffered a heel injury a couple weeks ago.