COLUMBIA, S.C. — In last year’s 23-21 victory over then-No. 11 South Carolina, it was Marquez North who led the Tennessee receiving corps with a 102-yard performance.
But with the sophomore wide receiver suffering a shoulder injury that forced him out of Saturday’s contest, the Volunteers needed another receiver to step up against the Gamecocks inside Williams-Brice Stadium.
Alton “Pig” Howard answered the call.
In total, Howard amassed 138 yards from scrimmage – 109 receiving and 29 rushing – on nine touches in the Vols’ 45-42 victory over South Carolina, becoming the first UT receiver to eclipse the century mark in receiving since North’s performance against the Gamecocks on Oct. 19, 2013.
“I expect that out of Pig every single time,” freshman running back Jalen Hurd said. “Pig is a great player, and he really showed what he could do tonight. We expect that from his every single game, and he really helped his team win tonight.”
Much like North’s performance against the Gamecocks a year ago, Howard shined when the Vols needed him most.
With UT trailing South Carolina, 42-35, wand 1:23 remaining, the Vols faced the uphill battle of driving 85 yards to tie the game.
On the first play of drive, Howard made that task much easier, catching a Dobbs pass and turning it up field for a gain of 31. Four plays later, he ripped off 18 more yards to put the Vols inside the South Carolina 20-yard line.
“Pig did a great job of finding the holes in the defense and sitting down,” Dobbs said. “We had good play calls to get him open, and when he got the ball at the end, he was able to get some good yardage for us.”
Howard’s 49 yards on UT’s final drive of regulation helped set up Dobbs’ eventual game-tying, 9-yard touchdown to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jason Croom that forced overtime, where UT would emerge victorious after one extra period.
“It was a relief (to get that win),” Howard said. “It was one of the best feelings in the world. Our last couple of games, we’ve been losing so be able to get this win to carry momentum into Missouri is a great feeling.”
Maggitt’s make-up play: Curt Maggitt took responsibility for Tennessee’s most costly defensive error.
Following a Dobbs 21-yard touchdown pass to Hurd that trimmed the Gamecock lead to 35-28, Maggitt sat on the sideline getting his ankle re-taped.
Unfortunately for the Vols, he was supposed to be on the field, and South Carolina took advantage as Brandon Wilds broke off a 70-yard touchdown run down the left sideline.
“We had ten guys on the field, so it was a miscommunication from the sideline, so I was beating myself up about that,” Maggitt said. “So I really wanted a chance to make a play and redeem myself.”
Maggitt got that chance in overtime when UT’s defense was given an opportunity to redeem itself for allowing South Carolina to rack up 640 total yards in regulation.
He – and the defense – capitalized, sacking quarterback Dylan Thompson for a loss of nine on the Gamecocks’ first offensive play in overtime. From there, the UT defense backed up South Carolina six more yards to force a 58-yard Elliot Fry field goal attempt, which was partially blocked to seal the Vols’ victory.
The win meant a little bit more for Maggitt, who missed last year’s upset victory over the Gamecocks in Neyland Stadium because of his rehabilitation from a torn ACL he suffered in the 2012 season.
“It was a wonderful feeling,” Maggitt said. “It’s a blessing to get the opportunity to play football and I feel like I’m blessed every time I step onto the field, so it was a great feeling and the win made it feel even better.”
