Best Play Call: Steve Spurrier goes over the top after fumble replay

This week’s best play call comes to us from South Carolina’s matchup against Vanderbilt in Nashville this past Saturday.

The Gamecocks held a 17-14 lead with 10:08 remaining in the third quarter. Following an official review of a potential fumble, South Carolina scored on the ensuing 1st-and-10 with a 29-yard reception by Shaq Roland.

Rather than taking a conservative approach, head coach Steve Spurrier decided to allow quarterback Dylan Thompson to throw right over the top and find his primary target in the middle of the end zone. Despite being heavily favored, South Carolina found themselves in an early fight against the Commodores, who jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

However, the Gamecocks managed to answer in the second, leading up to a full momentum swing with Roland’s touchdown catch. The play shifted the game heavily in South Carolina’s favor and led to the Gamecocks outscoring Vanderbilt 31-20 in the second half, including a 21-10 fourth quarter.

South Carolina went on to win 48-34 and moved ahead to 3-1 to open the season. The Gamecocks host Missouri at home on Saturday.

Jason Hall

A former freelance journalist from Nashville, Jason covers Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky