Hold Leads South Carolina Rout of The Citadel, 56-17

Quarterback Mike Hold threw for two touchdowns and ran for another Saturday night as No. 17 South Carolina beat The Citadel, 56-17, before a crowd of 73,500 in the season opener for both teams.

Hold, who sat out most of the second half while his backups played, hit 6 of 11 passes for 128 yards. The 6-foot, 194-pound senior also ran for 43 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown.

South Carolina running backs Thomas Dendy and Kent Hagood scored rushed for a total of 175 yards--Dendy picking up 89 yards and two touchdowns, and Hagood accumulating 86 yards and one touchdown.

South Carolina held The Citadel to minus-seven yards rushing in the first half. The Gamecocks finished with 440 yards rushing, the Bulldogs with 59.

Last season, The Citadel had come out quickly against South Carolina and jumped into a 21-14 halftime edge before the Gamecocks battled back, winning, 31-24, in the final minutes.

The Gamecocks set a record for total offense with 636 yards, breaking the mark of 616 set in 1976 against Clemson.

Placekicker Scott Hagler, who had eight extra points Saturday, also entered the school’s record books when he hit his 51st consecutive conversion, making the score 42-14 in the third period. Hagler added his 52nd and 53rd conversions in the fourth quarter.

South Carolina tackle Fitzgerald Davis was thrown out of the game in the third quarter after a fight.