{"id":333318,"date":"2025-10-26T07:22:10","date_gmt":"2025-10-26T07:22:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/333318\/"},"modified":"2025-10-26T07:22:10","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T07:22:10","slug":"booger-mcfarland-calls-out-south-carolina-for-late-game-decision-to-allow-game-winning-td","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/333318\/","title":{"rendered":"Booger McFarland calls out South Carolina for late-game decision to allow game-winning TD"},"content":{"rendered":"

No. 4 Alabama<\/a><\/strong> held off South Carolina<\/a><\/strong>\u2018s upset bid with a 29-22 victory Saturday night in Columbia.<\/p>\n

The Gamecocks took a 22-14 lead with 10 minutes remaining in regulation, but the Crimson Tide rattled off 15 unanswered points to win their seventh consecutive game. With the game tied at 22 apiece with 34 seconds remaining, Germie Bernard<\/a><\/strong> found paydirt from 25 yards out to seal the win.<\/p>\n

On Bernard\u2019s run, it appeared as if South Carolina<\/strong> defensive back DQ Smith<\/a><\/strong> let him score<\/a> in order for the Gamecocks to get the ball back with 34 seconds left. ESPN\u2018s Booger McFarland<\/strong> ripped the decision on social media following the game.<\/p>\n

\n

What the hell just happened in South Carolina ? Better chance of a kicker missing a FG than gamecocks scoring with 34 seconds left. Wow<\/p>\n

\u2014 Booger (@ESPNBooger) October 25, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Tackling Bernard and relying on a field goal instead of having to go the length of the field with under 30 seconds remaining seems like a much more feasible scenario to overcome. South Carolina<\/strong> started its final drive from its own nine-yard-line with 16 seconds remaining and came nowhere close to getting past midfield.<\/p>\n

Both programs had been heading in opposite directions over the past few weeks. South Carolina<\/strong> had lost four of its past five games after opening the season with a 2-0 record, while Alabama<\/strong> had rattled off six consecutive wins (four in a row against ranked opponents) after losing to Florida State<\/a><\/strong> in its season opener. It appeared as if the \u2018Cocks would be turning their season around Saturday night, but that was not the case.<\/p>\n

Alabama clinches third consecutive victory over South Carolina<\/p>\n

South Carolina<\/strong> opened the scoring in the game with a 24-yard field goal to cap off its opening drive. After forcing a quick three-and-out by the Alabama<\/strong> offense, the Gamecocks had a prime opportunity to take a quick 10-point lead.<\/p>\n

Disaster struck however, as a LaNorris Sellers<\/a><\/strong> pass was fumbled and tipped into the air by wide receiver Rahsul Faison<\/a><\/strong>. Alabama<\/strong> DB Dashawn Jones<\/a><\/strong> caught the tipped ball for an interception and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown, giving the Crimson Tide a 7-3 lead.<\/p>\n

Gamecock kicker Wiliam Joyce<\/a><\/strong> connected on yet another field goal to cut the deficit to one, but Alabama<\/strong> quarterback Ty Simpson<\/a><\/strong> hit tight end Josh Cuevas<\/a><\/strong> for a three-yard score just before halftime to extend the lead to 14-6 for the Tide.<\/p>\n

Coming out of the break however, South Carolina<\/strong> played with its hair on fire. Sellers hit wide receiver Nyck Harbor<\/a><\/strong> in stride for a 54-yard touchdown on Carolina\u2019s first drive, held Alabama<\/strong> scoreless and then kicked its third field goal of the game to take a 15-14 lead into the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n

Sellers, who enjoyed his best game of the season, extended the Gamecock lead a bit thanks to a 10-yard rushing score with 10 minutes remaining. Alabama<\/strong> however bounced back and knotted the game at 22 apiece with a four-yard passing touchdown from Simpson to receiver Germie Bernard<\/strong> just before the two-minute warning.<\/p>\n

With the game now tied, Carolina got the ball back with two minutes remaining. Just three plays into its potential game-winning drive, Sellers fumbled and the ball was recovered by the Crimson Tide. They drove the length of the field and took the lead on the controversial Bernard score, cementing the conference road victory in Columbia.<\/p>\n