COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina’s head coach, Shane Beamer, received an encouraging message recently from a fellow SEC coach who praised freshman quarterback LaNorris Sellers. The coach’s message read, “You’ve got ‘Superman’ back there,” a testament to the young quarterback’s growing impact on the team.
Sellers showcased his skills once again Saturday night, helping No. 23 South Carolina secure a thrilling 34-30 win against No. 24 Missouri. The redshirt freshman stepped into the starting role, previously held by NFL rookie Spencer Rattler, and delivered a stellar performance, throwing for 353 yards and five touchdown passes. His final touchdown came with just 15 seconds remaining, when he connected with Raheim Sanders for a 15-yard score, marking another comeback for the Gamecocks in the fourth quarter.
One standout moment during the game left Gamecocks defensive tackle Alex Huntley amazed as Sellers managed to avoid a sack on a critical third down before completing an 11-yard pass to tight end Brady Hunt. Huntley recalled thinking, “Did he get sacked?” and realized something special was about to happen.
Sellers has been a key player for the Gamecocks, especially since they were 3-3 after a loss to Alabama on October 12. He has led the team to impressive victories over Oklahoma (35-9), Texas A&M (44-20), and Vanderbilt (28-7).
Staying calm under pressure has been Sellers’ approach. “It’s about staying calm, not budging, not flinching,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of focusing on one play at a time without worrying about the final score.
Despite some tense moments when Missouri took the lead twice in the final quarter, Sellers and the Gamecocks responded each time, showcasing their resilience. With this win, South Carolina (7-3, 5-3) has clinched four consecutive victories in the Southeastern Conference for the first time since 2012, marking Beamer’s success in reviving the program.
Missouri (7-3, 3-3) went ahead briefly with a touchdown pass from Brady Cook to Luther Burden III, but Sellers quickly answered, throwing two notable passes to guide the Gamecocks to the Missouri 21-yard line. Following a crucial 7-yard run, he handed the ball off to Sanders, who charged into the end zone, igniting the crowd at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Sanders, who is nicknamed “Rocket,” has scored six of his eleven rushing touchdowns during the team’s current four-game winning streak. Missouri’s final attempt to even the score was thwarted when Cook was intercepted by Jalon Kilgore with just five seconds left, securing South Carolina’s victory and marking the first time in program history they have beaten three ranked teams in a row.
In the aftermath of the game, Missouri’s Nate Noel had an impressive performance with 150 rushing yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win. Despite a strong start to the season, the Tigers’ chances for the College Football Playoff are now slim.
As the season continues, South Carolina will need a lot of support along with a win against No. 17 Clemson in two weeks to make a case for a playoff spot. However, they’ve established themselves as a team few in the SEC would want to face right now.
In other news, Missouri’s Cook performed well, throwing for 239 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. This follows an injury that had threatened his ability to start this week.
Looking ahead, Missouri will face Mississippi State next Saturday, while South Carolina will host Wofford on the same day.
