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Late score helps Auburn upend South Carolina

Oct 2, 2011 - 2:07 AM Columbia, SC (Sports Network) - Barrett Trotter threw a touchdown pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen with 1:38 remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Auburn Tigers upset the 10th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks, 16-13, at Williams- Brice Stadium.

Facing a 3rd-and-five from the South Carolina nine-yard line, Trotter found Lutzenkirchen cutting across the middle towards the left sideline. South Carolina linebacker Reginald Bowens stripped the ball away at the goal line, but the Auburn tight end managed to recover and secure possession in the end zone before sliding out of bounds.

Stephen Garcia then guided the Gamecocks into enemy territory and completed a 12-yard pass to Bruce Ellington, setting up a first down at the 30. But South Carolina was unable to attempt a potential game-tying field goal because time had expired.

Trotter finished with 112 yards and two interceptions on 12-of-23 tosses for Auburn (4-1, 2-0 SEC).

"It wasn't really pretty," Trotter said. "The defense played great all day. We had trouble getting in the end zone all day. Turnovers that I was responsible (for) kept us probably from getting some field goals, which would have helped our defense there at the end. We came out with a win and any time you do that on the road, and in the SEC, it's a great win."

Garcia completed just 9-of-23 passes for 160 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for the Gamecocks (4-1, 2-1), who were looking to start a season with five straight wins for the first time since 2001.

"Our defensive team had a heck of a game, but they made some third downs on us there at the end," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said. "Offensively, we could do nothing. We were pretty sad, pretty sad the entire game. We couldn't run the ball and we're not a really good passing team. They made some third downs and ended up winning the game."

Auburn's first drive of the game culminated in a 21-yard Cody Parkey field goal.

After the teams exchanged turnovers, Garcia hooked up with Alshon Jeffery for a 50-yard touchdown. A blocked extra point kept it a 6-3 game.

The Tigers used an 11-play, 75-yard drive that bled into the second quarter to retake the lead. Michael Dyer capped the march with a one-yard plunge, but the visitors led by only three when Parkey missed the point after.

Auburn then looked to pad its before halftime, lining up for a field goal. It turned out to be a fake, and Ryan White's pass was picked off by South Carolina defensive lineman Melvin Ingram.

Trailing 9-6, the Gamecocks moved ahead in the third quarter on a drive that consisted of just two plays. Starting from midfield, Garcia hit Ellington for a 35-yard completion. Running back Marcus Lattimore then shrugged off a couple of defenders en route to the end zone.

Late in the third, Trotter was picked off by C.C. Whitlock. Auburn, though, caught a break when Whitlock fumbled during the return. The Tigers regained possession, but history repeated itself early in the fourth quarter as Whitlock intercepted Trotter again, this time in the end zone.

Game Notes

Auburn is 9-1-1 all-time against South Carolina and has won the last seven meetings, including last year's SEC title game...Dyer carried 41 times for 141 yards...Lattimore had 17 rushes for 66 yards.