Live Blog: Vanderbilt Football at. No. 11 South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C.- Will the streak end?

Vanderbilt goes into Saturday night looking to end a 16-game losing streak to South Carolina. The Commodores have not beaten the Gamecocks since 2008 and they are hoping tonight is the night the streak ends.

Both teams come into the game with a 2-0 start to the season with each team beating Virginia Tech between the past two weeks. South Carolina started its season off with a 24-11 win over the Hokies in Atlanta for the “Aflac Kickoff” game before taking care of business despite a slow start on offense against South Carolina State.

Vanderbilt is coming off a big win on the road in Blacksburg against Virginia Tech. The Commodores came back down 10 by scoring 34 unanswered in the second half and coming away with a 44-20 win. The flip of the switch after halftime led Vanderbilt to put a statement road win on the resume.

The key to tonight’s game will be how the Vanderbilt defense contains its second opposing dual-threat quarterback on the season in LaNorris Sellers.

While Vanderbilt is looking for another big win and to end the losing streak against the Gamecocks, South Carolina is playing for a lot, too. As playoff hopefuls, South Carolina almost needs to win this game to keep itself in the playoffs before getting deep into conference play.

Tonight’s winner will no doubt have the inside track to competing with the top of the SEC and look to keep climbing the rankings.

Live Blog

Be sure to refresh your browser for live updates from Vanderbilt vs. South Carolina. The most recent updates will appear at the top.

4th quarter

FINAL: Vanderbilt ends the streak against South Carolina with a 31-7 victory. Incredible effort on both sides of the ball.

This streak is ending tonight. Sedrick Alexander runs it in for a touchdown and that should just about do it. Vanderbilt is going to beat South Carolina. 31-7 Vanderbilt. This crowd is leaving in unison.

An unsportsmanlike penalty on South Carolina ejects one of its defenders as the Commodores are knocking on the door of the red zone.

Vanderbilt gets to Doty and forces a fumble and picks it up in plus territory. Commodores with the ball on the South Carolina 37. This third down defense has been incredible all night in every big moment.

Brock Taylor hits a 51-yard field goal to put Vanderbilt up three scores as the fans head for the exits early. Second week in a row where Vanderbilt has made the opposing team's fans leave early. 24-7 Vanderbilt with 9:31

Vanderbilt gets another stop on 4th down and now takes over at midfield. 13:19 remaining. A score here from Vanderbilt would start to put the game out of reach when you factor in time remaining.

3rd Quarter

Brock Taylor converts on a 51-yard field goal and extends the lead to three scores with 9:31 left. Tons of fans here are starting to head for thr exits. Second consecutive week Vanderbilt has started to empty out a stadium on the road early. 24-7 Vanderbilt

Critical mistake right there. Pavia throws an interception right to the defense in the end zone and South Carolina in on its own 21. A drive full of ups and downs for both sides ends in no points for Vanderbilt where it had a chance to go up three scores.

Pavia just delivered a strike to Stowers on 3rd and 21 for a first down conversion. South Carolina roughed up Pavia again and tacked on more yards. All of the sudden Vanderbilt is in the red zone at the 14.

A blindside block penalty on Vanderbilt going for the first down. It is now 3rd and 16 from the 46-yard line.

Bryan Longwell and the defensive line ripped through the SC offensive line and got a 4th down stop. Commodores now have it at midfield for 2nd and 5.

South Carolina has it 4th and 1 on the Vanderbilt 33. I got to think that the Gamecocks go for it here down two scores.

BREAKING: LaNorris Sellers will NOT return to tonight's game with an injury, according to Brad Crawford of CBS Sports. A huge moment in this game.

Jamezell Lassiter. What a play. He goes 44 yards to the house and Vanderbilt leads 21-7. An incredible start to this second half.

Vanderbilt's defense forces a three-and-out to open the second half. A big stop right there, let's see what the offense can do.

Luke Doty in at quarterback for South Carolina still as the third quarter begins.

2nd Quarter

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer did not give an injury update on Sellers going into half.

Vanderbilt is unable to steal points at the end of the half, but it goes into the locker room up 14-7. A great half for the defense in terms of getting stops when needed. South Carolina pushed the ball quickly down the field early, but the Commodores stood tall.

Vanderbilt gets third down stop it needed and holds South Carolina to a field goal attempt, but it is missed. What a defensive stop there. No damage done after all. 20 seconds left before half.

Backup quarterback Luke Doty has ran all over this Vanderbilt defense so far. A couple attempt for 13 yards so far that have extended the drive.

We have false starts, timeouts, 10-second run-offs all at the same time. Tempo of the game has slowed down immensely since the targeting call. 3rd and 7 for South Carolina.

Replay reviewed Patterson's hit on Sellers and deemed it targeting. Patterson it out of the game. Big loss for Vanderbilt's defense.

LaNorris Sellers got hit hard by Langston Patterson. Looks like Sellers got the wind knocked out of him and out of the game for now. We will see what happens from here.

Junior Sherrill catches a touchdown on an out route. 14-7 Vanderbilt. A huge drive that contained a couple of key third downs. Vanderbilt is 5/7 on third downs.

Third and goal for Vanderbilt on the 5 at the 2-minute timeout. Big scoring opportunity here.

Pavia finds Tre Richardson over the middle as Richardson finesses his way to a first down in addition to a SC roughing the passer call. Vanderbilt's got it at the SC 23.

Jamezell Lassiter comes up with a big third dow conversion to keep the drive alive. First down at midfield.

A Nick Rinaldi sack and a muffed snap from LaNorris Sellers puts South Carolina at 3rd and 33. Have to make sure you do not draw a penalty if you are Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt is unable to do further damage after approaching midfield. The Commodores punt it away to the South Carolina 16-yard line.

1st Quarter

Martel Hight catches a jet sweep to end the first quarter and Vanderbilt has it 2nd and 6 from its own 42.

Zaylin Wood comes up with a huge interception on the 15-yard line as South Carolina was looking to score. A huge defensive play early on this game.

Three-and-out for Vanderbilt on its second drive. South Carolina's defensive line is getting home every rush attempt, and Pavia could not find anyone on third down.

South Carolina responds quickly with a 75-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 7. Vanderbilt's defensive line just could not get much push there. 7-7

Sedrick Alexander catches a pop pass from Pavia and runs it 18 yards for a Vanderbilt touchdown. 7-0 Commodores.

Pavia with a pitch back to Sedrick Alexander for a what was a dysfunctional third down conversions. Into Carolina territory Vanderbilt goes.

Pregame

Vanderbilt lost the toss and South Carolina deferred. Vanderbilt with the ball first.

Theo Von has seemingly became a Vanderbilt super fan this season. Him and IShowSpeed were at the Commodores' practice earlier this week. Today, Theo Von has made the trip to South Carolina.

Vanderbilt has taken the field here in Columbia.

Vanderbilt defensive lineman Yilanan Ouattara is out with an injury, per the practice report.

We are about two hours from game time and teams are out warming up and stretching down on the field.

Weather Report

It is a hot and sunny day here in Columbia as Vanderbilt prepares to take on South Carolina. With a 7:45 p.m. kickoff, the temperature will be in the mid 70s at the start of the game and dip into the upper 60s by the end of the night. There is barely a cloud in the sky on this beautiful day, so weather should not be a factor in tonight’s game.