COLUMBIA -- South Carolina sure could use a lot more of what Syvelle Newton and Sidney Rice have cooking.

The senior quarterback and sophomore receiver put together a game like few others in Gamecock history, connecting on five touchdown passes in a 45-6 win over Florida Atlantic last Saturday night. And if South Carolina (3-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) hopes for a chance to surprise No. 2 Auburn (4-0, 2-0) Thursday night or any of other league heavyweights upcoming, it'll need Newton and Rice to stay as pitch perfect as they've been the past two games.

The two combined for 16 catches and 312 yards in victories over Wofford and the Owls. In South Carolina's first two games, with Blake Mitchell at quarterback, Rice was limited to five catches for 44 yards and no touchdowns.

"I think Syvelle's doing a real good job under center," Rice said.

That could be South Carolina's best chance to move forward in coach Steve Spurrier's second season.

Newton tied a school record with his five touchdown throws. Rice's receptions broke a South Carolina mark and tied the SEC mark. The performance earned Rice the league's offensive player of the week and also gave frustrated fans a reason to hope South Carolina's offense -- ranked 99th in Division I-A with Mitchell as a starter -- could turn into a strength.

Newton came to South Carolina a quarterback, but was shuffled and shifted to several different spots under coach Lou Holtz and Spurrier. A year ago, Spurrier turned Newton into a three-pronged offensive threat, lining him up at quarterback, receiver and tailback in a win over Vanderbilt.

The move seemed a success until Newton's third and final touchdown against the Commodores. He tore his Achilles' tendon and missed South Carolina's final five games.

Meanwhile, Rice became the Gamecocks breakout star, a lanky, strong player who could catch almost any ball thrown his way. He broke South Carolina's single-season mark with 13 touchdown catches and joined NFL standout Sterling Sharpe as the only Gamecocks with more than 1,000 yards receiving.

The vast majority of Rice's catches came on balls thrown by Mitchell. With another season learning from Spurrier, the two were expected to take their partnership to a much more successful level.

Instead, Rice found himself swarmed by defenders and Mitchell had trouble producing points.

Spurrier saw a change was needed after South Carolina fell at home to Georgia, 18-0, the first college shutout hung on the ball coach since 1987.

So in came Newton, the oft-shuttled player. Newton had never worked in a system like Spurrier's that relies on quarterbacks hanging near the pocket.

Still, Newton got the ball to Rice, who had seven catches for 151 yards in the 27-20 victory over Wofford.

Last week, Newton said he studied plays longer and harder than he had in the past. "If they want me to play quarterback, if playing quarterback is my position and that's what they want, then I have to get better throwing," he said.

The work paid off. Newton's technique improved, Spurrier said, and Rice thrived. All this from a combo that hadn't practiced much together during the summer, Rice said.

"It was kind of surprise" to see Newton take over a quarterback, Rice said. "But he really knows where to put the ball."

Spurrier sees Newton improving technique and getting more comfortable with the Gamecocks schemes.

"He made some beautiful throws," Spurrier said. "I'm telling you, he went back and threw it in there, the little hitch and go, curl and go, he dropped those in perfectly to Sidney."

Spurrier wants Newton or any of his quarterbacks to execute the play and then, should things break down, look to make something happen on the run.

Newton says he's learning that more each week.

As a quarterback "you have to put more time in than anybody else," he said. "You get more time in at practice. You have to get there early and stay late."

Both Newton and Rice say they're ready to continue their successful run. As long as the two keep doing what they're asked, "we'll be fine," Rice said.

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