After a game-time decision to start him, quarterback Connor Shaw didn't even last one half after re-aggravating a shoulder injury he suffered at Vanderbilt in week one.
Coach Steve Spurrier earned his 200th collegiate victory, as No. 8 South Carolina rolled past the University of Alabama-Birmingham, 49-6, in a second straight home game.
Two Gamecocks were injured during the game. Shaw re-aggravated his throwing shoulder and Bruce Ellington left with a right shoulder sprain.
Coming off a bye week, the Blazers came out the gate fired up with a 53-yard kick-off return, which led to a field goal to take an early lead.
It was the first time since the Florida game last season, that USC was down at William-Brice Stadium.
On the first drive of the game, Shaw would throw an interception, leaving Gamecock fans wondering if he was 100 percent.
Later in the first quarter, it was the defense who put the Gamecocks on top for good. With approximately 2:00 left in the 1st quarter, D. J. Swearinger picked up a UAB fumble and took it 65-yards to the end zone, changing the momentum of the game giving South Carolina a 7-3 lead.
In the second quarter, Shaw began to settle into the ball game expanding the lead 14-3, with a 16-yard connection to Ace Sanders for a touchdown.
UAB's answered back with a 46-yard field goal, cutting South Carolina's lead to 14-6.
With 1:44 left in the first half, Shaw re-injured his right shoulder and sat out for rest of the game.
"As soon as he threw it, the guy hit him right on that spot," said Head Coach Steve Spurrer. "Before the game I asked him 'If you get hit on that are you going to be hurtin'?' He said 'no, I'll be alright"
"I just landed on the same spot I got hit against Vandy," said Shaw. "The pain was pretty up there."
"The trainers and doctors all cleared him," said Spurrier. "I thought he deserved and earned the right to start."
Dylan Thompson replaced Shaw and connected to Marcus Lattimore for his 34th touchdown, setting the school's all-time touchdown record.
At the half, Gamecocks lead 21-6.
Thompson began the second half with two completions to Ellington for 43-yards, then Thompson ran the ball in for a touchdown increasing South Carolina's lead 28-6.
The team's fifth score was the fourth longest pass play in Gamecock history. Thompson threw the ball deep to connect to Damiere Byrd for a 94-yard touchdown, putting the Gamecocks ahead 35-6.
A 30-yard touchdown by freshman Shaq Roland and a running touchdown by Mike Davis in the 4th quarter capped off South Carolina's victory 49-6.
South Carolina's defense kept the Blazers out of the end zone the whole game.
After the game, Spurrier said it was the closest 49-6 game he'd ever seen.
South Carolina is 3-0 and will host Missouri in an SEC conference game on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Copyright 2012 WIS. All rights reserved.
Fireworks entertain fans at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Connor Shaw is injured in first half.
