No. 13 South Carolina Unleashes 'Beamerball' in 24-11 Win Over Virginia Tech

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

In a game steeped in symbolism and special teams magic, No. 13 South Carolina embraced its identity and executed “Beamerball” to near perfection in a 24-11 season-opening win over Virginia Tech on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Sophomore Vicari Swain electrified the crowd with an 80-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter, turning a tight 10-8 contest into a two-score game and giving head coach Shane Beamer the kind of moment his father, legendary Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, built his career on. The elder Beamer, credited with pioneering the philosophy of aggressive, playmaking special teams—now famously dubbed “Beamerball”—was in attendance wearing South Carolina black, proudly watching his son carry on the legacy. “Thought you'd like a special teams touchdown,” Shane Beamer told his father as they shared a postgame hug.

Swain, a defensive back and part-time return man, had earlier muffed a punt but bounced back with resilience. “Coach Beamer was like, ‘This is going to happen. It's your first time being out there, just make sure on the next one, just take it to the house,’” Swain said. “So I took it to the house.” The return was the turning point in a game where South Carolina’s offense struggled at times to find rhythm against a feisty Virginia Tech defense. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers threw for 209 yards and a touchdown on 12-of-19 passing, including a 64-yard strike to sophomore standout Nyck Harbor late in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Sellers also added a 15-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter, but the Gamecocks’ offensive line showed signs of early-season rust, giving up four sacks and five tackles for loss.

Harbor was a constant deep threat, finishing with three receptions for 99 yards. A second potential touchdown catch was erased by a replay review.

While South Carolina's offense made the highlights, the defense quietly controlled the game. The Gamecocks intercepted Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones twice—one in the red zone by Fred Johnson and another in the fourth quarter by Peyton Williams to stop any hopes of a Hokie comeback. Drones finished 15 of 35 for 221 yards but couldn’t find the end zone. Virginia Tech was held without a touchdown, relying on three field goals from John Love, including an impressive 56-yarder. The Hokies’ only other points came from a first-quarter safety when Kelvin Gilliam Jr. and Kody Huisman sacked Sellers in the end zone.

“Just self-inflicted wounds,” Drones said. “You can't shoot yourselves in the foot against a good opponent like that. We got to be better next week. We will be.” Despite the loss, Virginia Tech’s defense was a bright spot, keeping the game within reach well into the fourth quarter and showcasing aggressive pressure up front.

Takeaways:

• South Carolina: The Gamecocks showed flashes of explosive playmaking, particularly on special teams and with Harbor’s big-play ability. However, protection issues along the offensive line and some pocket awareness lapses from Sellers will need to be addressed.

• Virginia Tech: The Hokies’ defense looks legitimate, but the offense struggled mightily in the red zone and lacked efficiency. Drones will need to tighten up his decision-making heading into Week 2.

What’s Next:

• South Carolina (1-0) hosts in-state FCS opponent South Carolina State next Saturday.

• Virginia Tech (0-1) looks to rebound at home against Vanderbilt.