South Carolina needed a confidence boost, but instead it got a rough-and-tumble battle from the other Gamecocks. In the first-ever game between teams with Gamecocks as their mascots, Jacksonville State pushed South Carolina and then some, including holding a lead late in the 3rd quarter.

Then a pick-6 saved the home team in Columbia and South Carolina prevailed 38-28.

It was a chance for South Carolina to end a 4-game losing streak and keep its postseason hopes alive. Jax State came in with  2 straight wins and looked for just the second win over an SEC team after it beat Mississippi in 2010. This was a stiff non-conference matchup for the Garnet and Black as Jacksonville State coach Rich Rodriguez came into the game with a 16-4 in his 2 seasons as coach. Jax State is in its final season transitioning from FCS to FBS, and can play in a bowl game if there aren’t enough 6-win teams to fill the 82 spots.

It got even more dicey in the 3rd quarter when Jax State took a 28-21 lead as WR Perry Carter zoomed past DQ Smith and Jalon Kilgore for a 54-yard TD reception. It was a quick scoring drive of 3 plays, 62 yards in 1:16.

Here are our 3 takeaways:

Xavier Legette returns to old form

South Carolina’s big-play receiver, who has dealt with an upper-body injury since the Missouri game, provided a spark for the Gamecocks. Looking like his old self, Legette collected 144 yards in the first half on 6 receptions and a TD, with 9 targets. He also made a catch that went for 52 yards.

After it became a white-knuckle game for South Carolina with a 3rd-quarter deficit, Spencer Rattler connected with Legette for a 65-yard score to tie the game at 28 with 1:29 remaining in the 3rd quarter. Through 3 quarters, Legette put up 9 catches for 217 yards and 2 TDs.

Key 1st-half sequence

Jax State suffered a difficult sequence that ultimately turned the tide for the Gamecocks.

Jax State QB Zion Webb left the game in the 2nd quarter after he was dragged down at the end of a 1st-down run. Webb, who has dealt with injuries all season, was replaced by Logan Smothers when the game was 14-14. In the closing minute, South Carolina converted a touchdown to Legette.

Key 2nd-half sequence

Jax State had a nice drive on the ground going early in the 4th quarter, and then it lost a 2nd fumble of the game at its own 45. South Carolina got a Mitch Jeter 26-yard field goal with 5:51 to go to take a 31-28 lead. But the visitors answered with a clutch drive that included a one-handed catch down the sideline. But that was until South Carolina got a pick-6 from linebacker Stone Blanton, who returned it 88 yards for a pick-6 with 2:02 to go.

Blanton, who received criticism for much of the season, enjoyed a tremendous redemption play.

O’Donnell Fortune then made another interception to turn the lights out on the visitors.