South Carolina Dealt Potential Loss of QB Connor Mitch for the Season

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Replacing 2014 record setter Dylan Thompson in the pocket was never going to be easy for South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier but after the loss of starting quarterback Connor Mitch on Saturday, life on the gridiron just got a little bit tougher.

The Gamecocks were dealt injury with insult on Saturday losing 26-22 at home to Kentucky Saturday night but now must replace Mitch after Sunday’s announcement that he could miss the remainder of the season. Mitch first suffered a hip bruise against North Carolina in Week 1 that has developed into an infection and then suffered a separated right shoulder in the second quarter of the Wildcats game.

Mitch was hospitalized after leaving the game and is expected to remain in the hospital for a few days as he recovers from both setbacks. The injury could not come at a worst time on the schedule with a trip to SEC East foe Georgia in Week 3.

Lorenzo Nunez and Michael Scarnecchia are now the backups to Perry Orth. Before Mitch left the game, he rushed for a touchdown on the opening drive giving the Gamecocks a 7-0 lead. He also completed 4-of-7 passes for 43 yards. When Orth came in, he connected on 13-of-20 passes for 179 yards with a score and a pick. Brandon Wilds turned in a 106 yard game but could not find the end zone. Between the two quarterbacks, standout wide receiver Pharoh Cooper had nine receptions for 100 yards.

Patrick Towles posted game manager numbers connecting on 21-of-29 passes for 192 yards with one pick for Kentucky. Stanley “Boom” Williams and Jojo Kemp provided the bulk of the offense with Williams carrying 14 times for 107 yards and Kemp 13 times for 78 yards with one score. Towles had a one-yard keeper just before halftime pushing the score to 24-7.

South Carolina was regulated to three field goals in the second half until Orth hit Jerell Adams on a 33-yard pass for a score. Kentucky took the 2-point attempt back for the final 26-24 score. The decision to go for two was highly questionable.

Photo credit: yahoo.sports.com; No. 6 Connor Mitch vs Kentucky 2015.