COLUMBIA, SC — With 1:12 left, Josh Williams scored on a 2-yard run and error-prone No. 16 LSU rallied to beat South Carolina 36-33 in the Southeastern Conference opener on Saturday.

The Tigers (2-1, 1-0 SEC) trailed 17-0 and were still trailing in the final two minutes when Williams lofted a handoff through a wide gap on the left side into the end zone for the winning score. LSU players jumped for joy, but it was probably just as much relief after trailing for most of the game.

Garrett Nussmeier threw for 285 yards and two touchdowns, Caden Durham ran for 98 yards and two scores for their eighth consecutive win over the Gamecocks (2-1, 1-1).

LSU was anything but ready to go. Nussmeier threw a pass at the goal line on fourth down that seemed to ruin his team’s chances.

But the Tigers got one last chance with less than four minutes left. Nussmeier found Kyren Lacy, who caught the ball 29 yards and brought it to South Carolina’s 4-yard line. Two plays later, Williams sprinted for a touchdown.

For much of the game, it looked like South Carolina was going to come away with an unexpected victory.

Quarterback LaNorris Sellers ran for two touchdowns, including a 75-yard run, the longest by a quarterback in South Carolina history. Arkansas transfer Raheim Sanders scored a 66-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to put the Gamecocks back on top.

South Carolina had one last chance to tie the game when they advanced to LSU’s 39 with :05 left. However, kicker Alex Herrera fired his long field goal attempt wide right and LSU players ran to the sideline to celebrate.

Sellers, who ran for 88 yards and threw for 113 yards, left shortly before halftime with an ankle injury. He returned for a three-and-out series in the third quarter before spending the rest of the game on the bench.

Sanders ran 143 yards and scored two points.

THE RESULT

LSU: The Tigers’ performance was inconsistent, but it was a much-needed win after grumbling about the 27-20 loss to Southern Cal in the opener two weeks ago.

South Carolina: The Gamecocks, ranked 13th in the 16-team SEC, missed a golden opportunity to establish themselves as SEC contenders.

Hoop earrings for women

A big week for the South Carolina women’s basketball team and coach Dawn Staley, which began with a visit to the White House on Tuesday, ended with a celebration at the football game. The team was honored at halftime for its 38-0 winning season that led to the national championship. Staley also served as a guest predictor on “College GameDay.”

Next

LSU begins a three-game home series against UCLA on Saturday.

South Carolina faces Akron at home on Saturday night.

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