Sellers' TD sprint saves Gamecocks, but will his injury linger?

Nov. 7—COLUMBIA — LaWillis?

LaNorris Sellers, operating on one leg after sustaining a second-quarter injury, channeled New York Knicks legend Willis Reed with a 41-yard sprint for the game-clinching touchdown in No. 21 South Carolina’s 17-9 thriller over Texas A&M on Saturday. It was a marvelous moment with a stupendous finish, but it came with a very dark cloud attached.

Sellers began limping at the 10-yard line on his touchdown run. He had to be helped off the field. X-rays were negative at halftime, but after the game …

Texas A&M drove to the Gamecocks’ 10-yard line in the final seconds, but Marcel Reed overthrew two receivers to finish the game. It was USC’s fourth straight win.

Reed’s Knicks won the title after his moment. For the Gamecocks, their first College Football Playoff berth hangs in the balance of their quarterback’s health.

But their fledgling hopes for the CFP are strengthened, and with their sixth win, the team clinched bowl eligibility.

Key stats

—Texas A&M converted 8 of 18 first downs. The Gamecocks had a hard time keeping Marcel Reed, who struggled all season before this game, on the ground.

—Each punter showed off. USC’s Mason Love averaged 51.4 yards on his five punts, and A&M’s Tyler White was at 53.7 on his three tries.

Turning point

USC went for it on fourth-and-1 on its end of the field in the fourth quarter, and USC tried the Tush Push. Isaiah Augustave was stopped but spun and lunged for the marker. He got it.

Notes

—Charly Mullaly caught his second pass in as many games. The Holy Cross transfer has been seeing the field of late.

—Former Gamecock Trovon Baugh played offensive line for Texas A&M. He was hurt in the first half and did not return.

—Brady Hunt and David Bucey each played their best games at USC. Hunt caught three passes for 51 yards when he’d had 14 for 118 all year. Bucey, the defensive back not talked about despite being a starter, had five tackles and a pass breakup in just the first 16 minutes.

—The home team in the series has won the last six games.

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