By MIKE BONTS
www.jaxfootballnews.com
ORLANDO, Fla. --- With the 30-13 win over Nebraska before 61,351 in the Capital One Bowl, South Carolina set a school record for victories with 11 wins this season.
The previous record was 10 set in the 1984 season. Head coach Steve Spurrier now owns a 55-35 record at South Carolina in seven seasons at the helm.
“Wonderful win,” said Spurrier. “We are proud of this team we got. They played extremely hard, but we won the fourth quarter and our defense was sensational. Great win for all Gamecocks.”
South Carolina scored its first touchdown in the first quarter in a bowl game since the 2006 Liberty Bowl on the one-yard touchdown run by sophomore QB Connor Shaw. In the last three bowl games, the Gamecocks scored just three points in the first half – a field goal in the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Shaw was 11 of 13 for 270 yards. He also rushed for 73 yards.
Already the Gamecocks all-time leader in receiving yards, junior wide receiver Alshon Jeffery set a school record for 100-yard receiving games as he caught four passes for 148 yards – his 12th career game with 100 or more receiving yards besting the previous record of 11 set by Sidney Rice.
Jeffery also tied the school record for career touchdown receptions with his 23rd of his career on a 51-yard pass play to end the second quarter. Jeffery was named the MVP of the 2012 Capital One Bowl.
The nine-yard TD reception for Kenny Miles in the fourth quarter was his first touchdown of the season and his first career-receiving touchdown. He also scored on a three-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter.
South Carolina’s defense pitched a shutout against the Cornhuskers in the final 30 minutes of the game and allowed just 64 yards to Nebraska as well in the second half.
The Gamecocks totaled six sacks in the game, tying a season-high set vs. Vanderbilt in September. Jadeveon Clowney finished with two sacks, Melvin Ingram with one and a half, Antonio Allen and Devin Taylor with one.
South Carolina blocked its first extra point of the season and returned it for two points with 11:58 remaining in the first quarter. Travian Robertson was credited with the block with Stephon Gilmore returning the PAT for two points.
Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez completed 10-of-16 passes for 116 yards and a 30-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Bell in the first quarter. Martinez rushed for 37 yards and accounted for 156 yards of total offense.
