South Carolina Spoils Clemson's Regular Season Finale
The Gamecocks pulled off a 34-17 upset.



Nov. 28, 2009

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    • COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Stephen Garcia threw three touchdown passes and South Carolina's defense slowed down Clemson star C.J. Spiller in a 34-17 victory over the 15th-ranked Tigers on Saturday.

    Spiller opened the game with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, an NCAA record- setting seventh of his career. But the Gamecocks (7-5) bottled up Spiller and Clemson's high-scoring offense after that to end the Tigers' six-game win streak--and their dominance in the rivalry.

    Clemson (8-4) had won two straight, six out of seven and 10 of 12 against the Gamecocks, who had only one victory over the Tigers in the last 10 games at Williams-Brice Stadium.

    That changed against a South Carolina defense ranked third in the Southeastern Conference and fresh from a week off.

    Clemson had just 260 yards of offense, well off the more than 415 it averaged the past six games. Spiller finished with 18 yards rushing and 19 receiving.