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COLUMBIA, South Carolina (Ticker) -- No. 22 South Carolina ended the regular season on a high note, holding on for a 20-15 victory over Clemson in the 99th meeting between the Palmetto State rivals. The banged-up Gamecocks (8-3) rebounded from last week's 54-17 loss to Florida and reached eight wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1987-88. South Carolina also snapped a four-game losing streak against Clemson and beat the Tigers at home for the first time since 1987. The Gamecocks reached eight wins last season by beating Ohio State, 23-7, in the Outback Bowl. They have not won nine games since 1984. "We will be ranked 52 weeks in a row," South Carolina coach Lou Holtz said. "We stayed in the top 25 all year. I am proud of that. It's not easy to do in this conference. That's eight wins back-to-back." "I want to congratulate South Carolina, coach Holtz and his staff," Clemson coach Tommy Bowden added. "They really took it to us in the second half. I agree with what I said earlier. You don't appreciate a victory in this rivalry until you lose it." Quarterback Phil Petty played with a bruised shoulder and running back Derek Watson was in action despite a hip pointer. Linebacker Kalimba Edwards, a semifinalist for both the Butkus and Lombardi awards, missed the game with a knee sprain. "This is my last game against Clemson," Petty said. "I was hurting at halftime. It's pain, but you play through it. Personally, being from this state, this is our biggest win since I've been here. This is the happiest I've ever been. Hopefully, this puts us in good position for a bowl." Clemson (5-5), which suffered its third straight loss, closed to 20-15 on Woodrow Dantzler's 11-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Hamilton with 2:38 remaining. But the Gamecocks recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock. "With a long losing streak against Clemson, this was a huge win," South Carolina running back Ryan Brewer said. "This was big for the seniors. We wanted to send them out with a win." South Carolina started slowly, falling behind, 6-0, on Dantzler's 50-yard TD strike to Airese Currie with nine remaining in the opening quarter. The Gamecocks got on the board on Daniel Weaver's 29-yard field goal with 9:05 left in the first half. After Aaron Hunt booted a 24-yard field goal for Clemson five minutes later, South Carolina took a 10-9 halftime lead on Derek Watson's six-yard TD scamper with 2:26 left. Watson was held to 54 yards on 18 carries. After Weaver converted a 42-yarder midway through the third period, the Gameocks made it 20-9 on Corey Jenkins' one-yard TD plunge 2:33 into the final period. "The turning point was the third quarter," Bowden said. "They had some long drives. We needed more chances with the ball." Andrew Pinnock paced South Carolina on the ground with 80 yards on 14 carries. Petty completed 14-of-23 for 152 yards with an interception in his final home appearance. Dantzler rushed for 102 yards on 20 carries and completed 15-of-19 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns. But he did not get much help, accounting for all but 44 of the Tigers' 350 total yards. "This was a tough game, but we were very psyched," South Carolina linebacker Jonathan Martin said. "Woody did a good job of mixing it up. A lot of times we were tired out there." Clemson has dropped four of its last five and needs to win next week's finale against Duke to become bowl eligible.
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