David Spaulding delivered just what South Carolina needed after a sluggish first half.

Spaulding’s 75-yard pick-6 gave the Gamecocks loads of momentum entering halftime, and a 10-point lead.

That became a theme throughout the game as the defense continued to respond when called upon after turnovers and other offensive miscues. So it was fitting that Damani Staley made the final play for the defense, a deflected interception that was enough for the Gamecocks to hold on for a 23-14 victory. The game had 7 fumbles and 2 interceptions.

Before Spaulding’s pick-6, the Gamecocks had just 35 rushing yards and were 3-for-8 on third down. Running the ball has been an issue most of the season, and this time, the Gamecocks shuffled the offensive line, in part because of Jaylen Nichols’ ankle injury, to insert Jakai Moore and Vershon Lee at left tackle and left guard to start the game. Jazston Turnetine came in for the second series at left tackle.

That offensive line struggled to find a consistent push most of the game as the sluggish offense that has described the Gamecocks early this season continued on Saturday.

Before Spaulding’s big play, the only other major highlight for the Gamecocks was E.J. Jenkins 16-yard touchdown catch to give the Gamecocks the lead again. QB Luke Doty was 14-of-24 passing for 202 yards, but a notable development was he connected with 9 different receivers in the first half.

South Carolina saw that momentum evaporate when R.J. Roderick was ejected for targeting, and Troy scored on an easy walk-in touchdown with 11:25 remaining in the third quarter.

As it’s done most of the season, the Gamecocks defense stiffened midway through the third quarter, and held Troy to a punt, which was blocked from the Trojans’ own 38-yard line. It was the third blocked punt of the season the Gamecocks, however, they had to settle for 48-yard field goal from Parker White.

With Roderick out, the player who replaced him, Jahmar Brown, made yet another big play for the Gamecocks’ defense as he appeared to intercept Troy’s Taylor Powell, but it was overtuned on review late in the third quarter. Things turned worse when Ahmarean Brown fumbled a punt at the end of the third quarter, but again the Gamecocks defense bailed them out.

Jahmar Brown appeared to contribute some solid production for South Carolina in place of DB R.J. Roderick, who was ejected earlier in the game following a targeting call.

But Brown delivered the dumbest play of the day after a big sequence for the Gamecocks defense. After Troy QB Taylor Powell was sacked late in the third quarter by Jaylan Foster, Damani Staley recovered the ball that was fumbled by Powell, and then fumbled himself. That’s when Brown picked the ball up at the South Carolina 38-yard line, and returned it all the way to the 1-yard line before he let the ball go on his own.
After a review, it was ruled a touchback and Troy was awarded the ball.

Still, that defense needed to come up again once Doty fumbled on third down when he was sacked at his own 40-yard line. And did it ever. Three plays later, Foster forced another fumble, and Zacch Pickens recovered it.

Parker White iced it with a 37-yard field goal with 2:20 remaining. That was setup by a 12-play drive that covered 53 yards, and drained 5:57 off the clock.