COLUMBIA - Vanderbilt continues to give South Carolina fits. But, well, the Commodores didn't give the Gamecocks a loss this season.

Despite stuffing the stat sheet, USC needed a late defensive stop to hold on for a 14-10 victory against Vandy before an announced crowd of 75,624 fans at Williams-Brice Stadium.

"Vandy plays us tough," South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said.

To say the least.

The Commodores sent USC on a five-game losing streak two years ago after a

6-1 start. They proved it was no fluke last season with another upset.

For a while, it appeared lightning might strike three times. Saturday, the Gamecocks (6-2, 3-2 SEC) trailed 10-7 until early in the fourth quarter.

Even after they grabbed the lead, Vandy (2-6, 0-5) had the ball at the USC 23-yard line with two minutes to play.

On third-and-8, excellent pressure from Eric Norwood and others forced Commodores quarterback Larry Smith to ground the ball. After a 24-yard penalty, the 'Dores were sunk.

All that drama despite 431 yards from South Carolina's offense, which has been perpetually inconsistent during the first half of the season.

"Stats are stats," said freshman running back Kenny Miles, who had a career-high 102 yards on 18 carries. "But a 'W' is a 'W'."

South Carolina is bowl eligible for the sixth consecutive season, and the Gamecocks are above .500 in the SEC for the first time this season.

Trying trips to Tennessee and Arkansas are next.

How valuable has a win against Vanderbilt become around here? So much that Spurrier rolled out a phrase that has been reserved for some pretty big wins in his time here.

"I believe the Lord was smiling on the Gamecocks tonight," Spurrier said.

Yes, divine help is now required to master the Commodores. A Higher Power -- and Alshon Jeffery.

The freshman receiver is getting better each week, evidenced Saturday by an eight-catch, 161-yard day.

"He is arguably one of the best receivers in the SEC, if not the country,"

Garcia said. "It's going to be great playing with him the next couple of years."

Jeffery had 138 yards and three scores two weeks ago against Kentucky, and he led all receivers last week at No. 1 Alabama with 83 yards.

Saturday, on a laser of a pass on third-and-20, Jeffery broke free of a couple of defenders for a 43-yard score with 12:51 to play.

Spurrier called it one of Garcia's best throws. The catch and run weren't bad, either.

"I guess that's the way you draw it up," Garcia said.

The drive started on USC's own 1-yard line as the fourth quarter began.

Momentum was squarely in Vanderbilt's favor.

But Garcia launched a deep ball on first down and found Tori Gurley for a 43-yard gain down the left sideline. Jeffery took a short pass 23 yards on the next play.

After a short run, a holding call and a sack, the Gamecocks needed magic from A-1. Garcia then hit Jeffery for the game-winning touchdown.

Spurrier said it was a play put in this week at practice.

You look at the final box score, and you'd think South Carolina had probably rolled over Vanderbilt.

It had a 300-yard passer in Garcia (he had 312 yards, one off his career high).

It had Miles, who ran for 100 yards for the second time in three games.

It had Jeffery, who went nuts for the second consecutive home game against an East opponent.

But it still struggled to get on the scoreboard.

It did relatively early, at the 7:52 mark in the second quarter, with D.L.

Moore's 35-yard reception from Garcia. But Vandy answered right back, when Warren Norman went 99 yards untouched on the kickoff return.

The game was tied at the half, and the Commodores went ahead with Ryan Fowler's short, 21-yard field goal with 8:55 to go in the third.

But Vanderbilt's offense couldn't get in the end zone, despite the late threat. The Commodores have scored 39 points in five conference games.

Meanwhile, South Carolina has now won five consecutive home games.

"We're happy as we can be to be 6-2," Spurrier said. "We're a very happy bunch of Gamecocks."

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