South-Carolina
Robby Ashford throws for two touchdowns and runs for a third in South Carolina’s 50-7 win over Akron
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Backup Robby Ashford, starting when LaNorris Sellers injured his right ankle in a loss to LSU last week, threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third as South Carolina topped Akron 50-7 on Saturday night.
The Gamecocks opened 3-1 for the first time since 2017 as they bounced back from squandering a 17-0 lead over No. 16 LSU last week to lose 36-33 in the final two minutes.
“Obviously, this was a tough week, coming off last week,” South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said. “We certainly had a bitter disappointment last week, but our guys responded the right way.”
Particularly Ashford, who started 10 games over two seasons at Auburn before transferring, making good on Beamer’s vow that multiple Gamecock quarterbacks could win games if given the chance.
“Been through a lot of ups and downs in my career and it’s taught me a lot,” Ashford said. “None of this would have been possible without my teammates. They let me know from the jump, ‘Hey, we got confidence in you.’”
Ashford finished with 243 yards passing, including scoring throws of 30 yards to Mazeo Bennett and 12 yards to JuJu McDowell. Ashford also ran for a game-high 133 yards with a scoring run of 36 yards.
Oscar Adaway, playing when starting tailback Raheim Sanders left the game early with an injury, had a pair of two-yard scoring runs.
Ashford was 15-of-21 passing. With many in the stadium and watching from home expecting the Gamecocks (3-1) to make their living on the ground, Ashford instead was able to unsheathe the Gamecocks’ previously anonymous receiving game.
“I’m beyond proud of him. His number was called and he went out there and did what he was supposed to do,” Bennett said of Ashford.
Bennett, a freshman receiver, had five catches for 71 yards.
Akron (1-3) was led by 110 passing yards from Ben Finley, who threw for one TD but also had an interception. The Gamecocks’ defense held the Zips to 154 yards.
“These are the games where dominant teams be dominant,” South Carolina defensive end Kyle Kennard said. “If you claim to be the kind of defense we claim to be, these are the games where there’s no question.”
The Gamecocks also finished with zero turnovers, which was a concern over their first three games.
Akron posted its lone score just before halftime, running six plays for 70 yards and Adrian Norton finishing with a 42-yard pass for a touchdown. Ashford couldn’t handle a snap on fourth-and-short on the ensuing drive to squelch an opportunity, and with the Zips getting the ball first in the second half, a 22-7 lead could have been further whittled.
But the Gamecocks forced a punt, then forced another before Adaway collected his second touchdown. Third-string QB Davis Beville threw his first South Carolina touchdown to backup tight end Connor Cox while S.C. State transfer Jawarn Howell had a 23-yard rushing TD.
Takeaways
Akron: It was a game needed for the ledger. The Zips pocketed $1.5 million from South Carolina to come to Columbia. The Mid-American Conference schedule will decide the season.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks were able to find another dimension with their offense, even with a top part of it mostly sidelined. The next two weeks of recovery will be key to how they prepare for their next opponent, Top-10 Ole Miss.
Injury updates
South Carolina’s Beamer expects Sellers to be ready with another two weeks to go before facing a top-five opponent in Ole Miss. The coach also said that the injury to tailback Sanders, who wore a boot on his left ankle, was “nothing long term.”
Up Next
Akron opens Mid-American Conference play at Ohio on Saturday.
South Carolina has next week off before facing No. 5 Mississippi at home on Oct. 5.
Copyright 2024 WHNS. All rights reserved.
A shark is swimming around a surfer in Aptos, California
Drone footage shows a large shark was seen swimming ominously close to a surfer sitting on his surfboard at Seascape Beach in Aptos, California.
As summer crowds return to South Carolina’s beaches, new data highlights how influential the Palmetto State is on America’s shark risk.
The state has 118 recorded historical shark attacks, the third‑highest total in the nation. Two unprovoked bites have already been reported in 2026, according to Vegas Insider’s Summer Hazard Odds study.
South Carolina remains one of the country’s most closely watched coastal hotspots where incidents from shark bites to lightning strikes are likely to occur. Myrtle Beach, in particular, stands out, as it ranks No. 14 overall in hazard risk and No. 2 nationally for shark‑bite risk.
How likely is a shark bite in Myrtle Beach?
The odds of a shark bite in Myrtle Beach are estimated at 1 in 720,000 during a two‑week trip, equivalent to a 0.00014% likelihood, according to Vegas Insider’s Summer Hazard Odds study.
Even with Myrtle Beach’s national ranking, the numbers make one thing clear: shark encounters remain pretty rare.
Has there ever been a fatal shark attack at a South Carolina beach?
Despite its high risk of recorded shark encounters, there has never been a confirmed or fatal unprovoked shark attack in South Carolina in modern history.
The only such incident on record dates all the way back to 1852 in Charleston Harbor, according to America Surf, a magazine dedicated to surfing.
Myrtle Beach is among America’s top shark hotspots
With new national rankings spotlighting Myrtle Beach as one of the country’s most closely watched shark hotspots.
Vegas Insider’s Summer Hazard Odds study reveals it stems largely from the area’s intense swimmer density and environmental conditions.
With over 17 million visitors each year, Myrtle Beach does see an increase in accidental shark interactions. At the same time, the region’s warm, murky coastal waters create ideal shark-hunting conditions.
What types of sharks are at Myrtle Beach? Blacktips to bull sharks
As concerns about coastal safety rise each summer, understanding which sharks are actually responsible for bites in Myrtle Beach helps put the risk into perspective.
Most incidents in South Carolina involve small to medium coastal species, not large predators, according to americansurfmagazine.com
Along the beach, sharks most often linked to bites include blacktips, spinners, bull sharks, sandbar sharks, and Atlantic sharpnose sharks.
Reality of shark encounters in Myrtle Beach
Understanding why shark bites happen in Myrtle Beach helps make sense of the danger.
As reported by americansurfmagazine.com, most incidents aren’t aggressive attacks but quick, unintentional encounters driven by shark behavior.
Bites are typically unprovoked yet non‑aggressive, often involving single, rapid nips when a shark mistakes a hand, foot, or ankle for a small fish in the surf.
Juvenile sharks feeding in shallow, turbid water are the usual culprits, especially fast‑moving blacktips and spinners, which strike at baitfish near the shoreline and may accidentally contact swimmers.
Ways to reduce shark bite risk this beach season
As the summer beach season approaches, safety experts say that most shark encounters can be prevented with simple habits in the water.
According to the Florida Museum, ways to keep yourself and others safe include swimming in groups, staying close to shore, and avoiding the ocean during dawn, dusk, or nighttime, when sharks are most active.
It also means minimizing behaviors that attract attention, avoiding excess splashing, and steering clear of shiny jewelry or bright, high‑contrast clothing that resembles prey in murky waters.
Travis Jacque Rose is the trending news reporter for the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trose@gannett.com.
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball landed a potential starting infielder from the transfer portal.
Will Craddock, who played one season at South Carolina, committed to the Bulldogs on June 26.
“Hail State,” Craddock wrote on Instagram.
The freshman batted .260, leading the Gamecocks in home runs (10) and runs (36) while ranking third with 29 RBIs. In SEC play, his average dipped to .172 with two home runs, six RBIs and 14 runs.
Craddock primarily played first base, but also made starts at second base, third base and designated hitter. He started all three games against Mississippi State in April, batting 3-for-14 with a walk, no RBIs but two runs.
He was a standout player for T.L. Hanna in Anderson, South Carolina, and was the state’s 5A Player of the year in 2025. He hit .442 that season with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 10 stolen bases while ranked as the No. 26 player in South Carolina.
Mississippi State’s starting first baseman, Reed Stallman, is out of eligibility.
The transfer portal opened June 1 and closes June 30.
Mississippi State baseball transfer portal class
Craddock is the 10th transfer to commit to Mississippi State and the second South Carolina player, joining relief pitcher Zach Russell.
Other position players who are transferring to MSU include Georgia Southern catcher/outfielder Brady Christman, Samford outfielder Jake Souders, Army utility player Josiah Overbeek, South Dakota State third baseman Nolan Grawe, Oregon catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus and North Florida outfielder Carter White.
Twelve Mississippi State players have entered the transfer portal as of June 26, including relief pitcher Tyler Pitzer who committed to South Carolina.
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.
USA TODAY 250th anniversary travel guides and American stories
USA TODAY marks America’s 250th with travel guides, culture, history, and local stories.
As the nation prepares for its 250th anniversary, one of the efforts underway is America’s Time Capsule.
The time capsule project is led by America250 and meant to bring together carefully selected artifacts and documents from all 50 states, five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and each branch of the federal government.
This national project is designed to capture the story of the United States at this historic 250th birthday, according to America250.
Here’s what South Carolina contributed to the national project.
What did South Carolina put in the America250 time capsule?
South Carolina is marking the nation’s 250th anniversary by contributing two historic items to the national America’s Time Capsule project, according to America250.
As part of the SouthCarolina250, which is the state’s initiative for the U.S.’s 250th celebration, commemoration effort, the state has provided a commemorative challenge coin and an official SC250 lapel pin.
Both will be buried inside the capsule on July 4, along with items from other states. And it is set to be reopened 250 years later in 2276.
Where will the Americ250 time capsule be buried?
The ceremonial burial of America’s Time Capsule is set to take place at Independence National Historical Park, located at 599 Market Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 4, according to america250.org.
What else is in America’s 250th anniversary time capsule
As America’s 250th anniversary approaches, the national time capsule has been filled with items meant to capture the character and diversity of the country in this moment.
The collection spans a range of items, from archival letters and state proclamations to student work from the America’s Field Trip contest, uncirculated currency, and even pieces of national sports memorabilia.
Time capsule engineered to last centuries
As planners work to ensure America’s Time Capsule endures for the next two and a half centuries, engineers and archivists have focused heavily on long‑term preservation.
The capsule itself is a cylinder‑shaped stainless‑steel vessel, precision‑designed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in partnership with archival scientists at the Library of Congress, according to the Institute.
Travis Jacque Rose is the trending news reporter for the Greenville News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at trose@gannett.com.
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