COLUMBIA, S.C. — It wasn’t South Carolina’s offense that carried the day — it was Vicari Swain’s electrifying special teams performance.
Swain returned two punts for touchdowns, providing a much-needed spark for No. 10 South Carolina in a 38-10 win over South Carolina State early Sunday morning, following a lightning delay of over two hours.
The Gamecocks (2-0) leaned heavily on defense and special teams to compensate for a struggling offense that managed just 253 total yards. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers had another quiet outing, completing only 50% of his passes for 128 yards and rushing for 23 more — leading the team in rushing until the final snap.
Swain Ignites the Crowd
South Carolina trailed 3-0 early and showed little offensive rhythm before Swain broke loose. The sophomore defensive back dodged a tackler immediately after fielding a punt and raced 64 yards for a touchdown. His second score came in the third quarter when he alertly picked up a partially blocked punt before it came to a stop and returned it 42 yards to the end zone.
“We saw Wofford return a kick and block a punt against them last week,” Swain said. “So I figured, if they could do it, I could too — and I ran with that.”
Swain, who returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown last week against Virginia Tech, now has three punt return touchdowns this season — tying the South Carolina single-season record. He’s also the first FBS player with two punt return scores in a game since Daequan Hardy of Penn State accomplished the feat against UMass in 2023.
Defense Steps Up Too
The Gamecocks’ defense also got in on the scoring. Jaron Willis scooped up a fumble and took it to the house, giving South Carolina more points from defense and special teams (21) than from its offense (17).
Head coach Shane Beamer praised the impact of Swain and the special teams unit, noting the pressure it puts on opposing punters — and on fans who might otherwise head for concessions during fourth downs.
“They’ve already created an identity,” Beamer said. “People are going to stay in their seats when we’re receiving a punt.”
Offensive Woes Continue
Despite the final score, South Carolina’s offense looked far from ready for SEC play. Sellers opened the game with six incompletions in his first eight throws and was unable to establish much of a rhythm. The Gamecocks failed to consistently run the ball or protect the pocket.
“We know we have to be a lot better,” Beamer admitted. “We can’t expect the defense and special teams to score three touchdowns every week.”
Sellers, a sophomore, acknowledged the offense’s poor execution and lack of communication.
“I’ll definitely be better,” he said. “We’ve got to figure out what’s not clicking.”
Takeaways
South Carolina State: Despite the loss, the Bulldogs (1-1) leave Columbia with a $500,000 payday — a substantial boost for an athletic department that brings in about $13 million annually.
South Carolina: A win on paper, but the performance raises questions about how long the Gamecocks can hold onto a top-10 ranking, especially with teams like No. 11 Illinois making strong early statements, including a 45-19 rout of Duke.
What’s Next:
South Carolina State: Returns home to face Bethune-Cookman next Saturday.
South Carolina: Opens SEC play next weekend at home against Vanderbilt.
