It began as the most inspired effort for South Carolina since the Gamecocks upset Florida, and perhaps all season. And it ended with a formula some Gamecock fans figured they’d see all season.

Shane Beamer’s team resembled a College Football Playoff team in the first quarter, thanks to several offensive wrinkles, a pair of 60-yard touchdowns, a 2-point conversion and solid defense. By halftime, the Gamecocks had 312 yards of total offense, and were 6-for-6 passing as the Gamecocks swapped Zeb Noland with Dakereon Joyner. The Gamecocks didn’t throw an incomplete pass until there was 3:28 left in the third quarter.

North Carolina was also 0-for-6 on third down conversions, as the Gamecock defense stood up, even without star cornerback Cam Smith. The Tar Heels finished 1-for-10.

Put it all together, and South Carolina handled North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, 35-21.

Kevin Harris, who was expected to get the bulk of the carries since Zaquandre White elected to opt out, had his best game of the season. After MarShawn Lloyd went through pre-game warmups, he didn’t suit up in the game. Harris tacked on a touchdown on the first drive of the second half, and had a season-high in yards by the time he reached 138 rushing yards on a 38-yard run in the fourth quarter. Harris finished with 182 rushing yards.

North Carolina QB Sam Howell, who came into Thursday’s game with 2,851 passing yards, got off to a slow start as he was just 2-for-5 for 23 yards into the second quarter. In the second half, Howell connected on a trick play to TE Garrett Walston for a touchdown to give him 37 straight games with a TD pass. It’s the longest such streak in the country. With 825 rushing yards, and 34 total touchdowns, Howell was expected to be a threat in the game. But British Brooks delivered the first big play for the Tar Heels with a 63-yard touchdown run.

South Carolina’s start was a stark contrast from the scoreless last 5 quarters of the regular season.

It didn’t take long for the Gamecocks to get creative, as Jaheim Bell got the first carry from scrimmage. He then hit the first big play of the game, as he caught a 69-yard pass from Dakereon Joyner to cap an impressive 93-yard scoring drive.

Bell then poured it on again with a 66-yard touchdown from Zeb Noland.

Then, before the first quarter was over, Parker White hit a 30-yd field goal to pass Elliott Fry for the Gamecocks all-time scoring lead with 360 points.

As the Tar Heels looked to keep pace in the second half, the Gamecocks got a key sack to start the fourth quarter, their third of the game as they largely kept Howell in check as it was the seventh third down stop by Clayton White’s unit.

But it was Joyner who proved to be the surprise of the game, as he was 9-for-9 passing for 160 yards a touchdown. He also added 64 rushing yards, with some plays coming out of the Wildcat formation.