Buckeye Rosters

Recap

Tampa, FL — In the first ever meeting between South Carolina and Ohio State, the Gamecocks upset the favored Buckeyes 24-7. The win gave South Carolina Coach Lou Holtz his first victory over the Buckeyes in five tries (0-2 at Minnesota and 0-2 at Notre Dame).

The Gamecocks, who sold nearly 30,000 tickets for the game, were making their first bowl appearance since 1995. Ohio State was playing in its eighth New Year’s Day bowl game in nine years.

Sophomore Ryan Brewer, a native of Troy, Ohio, gave the Gamecocks plenty to cheer about. A flanker by trade, the 5 foot-10 inch, 220-pound Brewer was a one-man wrecking crew against the Buckeyes, accounting for 214 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns.

Both offenses struggled early and South Carolina led 3-0 at the half. The Buckeyes had a chance to tie the game as the half expired, but Dan Stultz‘ 47-yard field goal attempt was wide to the right.

The two teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. Brewer scored from 7 yards out for the Gamecocks and offensive guard Mike Gurr recovered a Jonathan Wells fumble in the end zone for the Buckeyes.

But it was all South Carolina in the fourth quarter as Brewer (the game’s MVP) scored first on a nifty 28-yard screen pass and later on a 2-yard run.

The Gamecocks converted on 7-of-14 third down chances. Ohio State was 3-of-12 in that department.

The Buckeyes lone sack of quarterback Phil Perry gave OSU a school-record 47 sacks on the year.