South Carolina jumps out early in lopsided win over Akron

Robby Ashford passed for 243 yards and two touchdowns in a fill-in start to help South Carolina roll to a 50-7 nonconference victory over Akron on Saturday night in Columbia, S.C.

Ashford completed 15 of 21 passes and rushed for a career-high 133 yards and one score on 16 attempts for the Gamecocks (3-1). Oscar Adaway III rushed for two touchdowns, and Mazeo Bennett Jr., Juju McDowell and Connor Cox each had a touchdown reception.

Ben Finley was 14-of-27 passing for 110 yards with one touchdown and one interception for the Zips (1-3). Adrian Norton caught a touchdown pass for Akron.

South Carolina played without starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers (ankle) and then lost standout running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders on his first carry. Sanders was sporting a boot on his left foot as he walked off the field at halftime.

Still, the Gamecocks outgained the Zips 549-154 and controlled the ball for 36 minutes, 3 seconds.

South Carolina scored the game's first 22 points.

Adaway capped a 13-play, 89-yard drive with a 2-yard run to take a 7-0 lead with 5:19 left in the first quarter.

Ashford tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Bennett with 53 seconds left in the period. Holder Kai Kroeger ran in the two-point conversion to give the Gamecocks a 15-0 lead.

South Carolina increased the margin to 22 on Ashford's 12-yard scoring pass to McDowell with 4:28 left in the half.

Akron got on the board when Finley and Norton teamed up on a 42-yard scoring pass with 1:53 left in the half.

The Gamecocks added on when Adaway scored from the 2 with 5:02 left in the third quarter.

Ashford broke free on a 36-yard touchdown run to make it 36-7 with 13:14 left in the contest. That was Ashford's last snap of the night.

Five minutes later, Davis Beville threw a 9-yard scoring pass to Cox to increase the lead to 43-7.

Jawarn Howell later scored on a 23-yard run to cap the scoring with 4:03 left.

--Field Level Media