Shane Beamer says ground game, defending Haynes King are the keys to ending A&M losing streak
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After being off last Saturday, South Carolina returns to action with a home game against Texas A&M on Saturday night.
The Gamecocks are 4-2 on the season, having picked up a huge road win at then-No. 13 Kentucky their last time out.
Shane Beamer said one of the keys for his team against the Aggies will be defending quarterback Haynes King.
“He’s really athletic,” Beamer said Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference. “He’ll sit in the pocket and know he’s about to get hit and make some throws. Impressed with his toughness. Somebody that continues to get better each week, as well.”
Beamer also said Wednesday that his team has to get its ground game going to have success Saturday night.
“Critical,” said Beamer of his team’s ability to run the ball. “It’s no secret that when we’ve run the ball successfully, we’ve won. .. It’s always critical. A&M prides itself on being physical and we do as well. It’s going to be a line-of-scrimmage game.”
If South Carolina gets the win on Saturday, it would mark a program first, as the Gamecocks are 0-8 all time against Texas A&M.
Beamer, however, believes that stat is essentially meaningless.
“Mentioned it to the team on Tuesday morning, but made them aware, because it’s true, that it doesn’t have anything to do with the 2022 Texas A&M team or the 2022 South Carolina team.” — Beamer explained.
The Gamecocks and Aggies will meet at 7:30 p.m. (ET) Saturday on the SEC Network. A&M is currently a 3-point favorite.
"Chris Wallace covers college football for Saturday Down South. He has covered college athletics for multiple newspapers and also worked previously for Rivals.com and GolfChannel.com."
