South Carolina defeats Wofford 24-7

The Gamecocks defeated Wofford 24-7 thanks to a big performance from Kenny Miles. USC improves to 9-2 on the season and will get ready to face the Clemson Tigers next weekend.

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Kenny Miles rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown and No. 12 South Carolina pulled out a closer-than-expected 24-7 win over FCS opponent Wofford 24-7 on Saturday.

The victory gave Steve Spurrier his 64th win in eight seasons with the Gamecocks (9-2), tying him with Rex Enright for most ever in program history. But it wasn't until a 17-point fourth quarter that Spurrier and South Carolina could rest easy in this one.

Adam Yates' 23-yard field goal broke a 7-all tie with 11:57 to go. After the Terriers (8-3) failed on a 4th-and-1 at their 34, Connor Shaw threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ace Sanders to widen the lead.

Moments later, Wofford's Eric Breitenstein fumbled and Akeem Auguste returned it 31 yards for a touchdown, making it 24-7.

It was the Gamecocks 11th straight win at Williams-Brice Stadium and completed their first perfect run at home (7-0) since 1987.

The Gamecocks played this one without star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, who didn't practice all week because of a sprained foot. He's expected back next week when South Carolina closes the season against rival Clemson at Death Valley.

South Carolina's won 16 straight over Wofford, who won a share of the Southern Conference this season and will likely get a bid to the FCS playoffs on Sunday.

Still, the Terriers' quirky, throwback triple-option attack has always given Spurrier's teams fits, nearly knocking off the Gamecocks when the teams met in 2006 (27-20) and in 2010 (23-13).

This game appeared to be different as South Carolina's defense, even without injured Clowney, held Wofford to 15 total yards in the opening quarter.

The Gamecocks also were moving easily on offense, crossing into Wofford territory on their first three series. But mistakes cost South Carolina and Wofford eventually took advantage.

Shaw threw a bad interception on Wofford's 33 to linebacker Alvin Scioneaux to end one drive. Freshman tailback Mike Davis was stripped of the ball on the Terriers' 6 while heading to the end zone on another. In between, Miles had a 2-yard TD run to put the Gamecocks up 7-0.

Wofford and Breitenstein finally got going right before halftime with a 12-play, 85-yard drive. Breitenstein, the SoCon's leading rusher with 1,528 yards coming in, carried the final seven times for 46 yards including a 2-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left in the half that tied things 7-7.

Breitenstein finished with 125 yards and a touchdown.

Shaw was 16 of 20 for 122 yards, but also threw an interception and was sacked four times.

There were some boos at halftime from the 79,982 on hand, and more in the third quarter as the Gamecocks continued to struggle.

When it was over, though, the crowd celebrated the undefeated home season and Spurrier lingered on the field and waved to the fans as he walked off. Spurrier held the coaching wins record at his alma mater and now joins Bear Bryant as coaches holding such marks at more than one Southeastern Conference school.

Spurrier remains the winningest coach in Florida history with 122 victories. Bryant holds the records for most wins at Alabama (232) and at Kentucky (60).