Gamecock to play three positions

Syvelle Newton wants to win at South Carolina – and he’s willing to play any position to accomplish that.

Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier has just about given Newton that chance and expects his junior star to line up at quarterback, wide receiver and tailback against Vanderbilt on Saturday.

“We’re playing him at all three,” Spurrier said. “Turn him loose.”

Spurrier has never worked someone at all three skill spots in the same week. It’s enough to make a player’s head spin – or at least lose track of what position meeting he’s attending.

“They say, next I’m going to be in the O-line meeting room,” Newton said.

Newton was one of the most talented prospects in South Carolina three years ago coming out of Marlboro County High. He had a strong arm, quick feet and the intelligence to make the right decisions. That versatility, though, may have slowed Newton’s progression with the Gamecocks.

Then-coach Lou Holtz worked him at quarterback his freshman year until Newton asked to switch to receiver to get on the field. Last year, Newton was thrown back into the quarterback rotation, splitting time with starter Dondrial Pinkins. When Newton had the chance, he showed he could play the position. In his first start, he passed for three touchdowns and 324 yards against South Florida, the best debut for a Gamecocks QB.

Newton had a 5-yard touchdown run and a 14-yard TD throw in the second half to lead the Gamecocks to bowl eligibility in a 35-32 win against Arkansas, South Carolina’s first win over the Razorbacks in four years.

But with Holtz’s retirement, Newton was again on the move. New coach Spurrier needed a playmaker on the outside and Newton appeared to be the best bet, so he was back at receiver.

Spurrier took Newton at his word in South Carolina’s last game, a 44-16 victory over Kentucky. Newton had five catches for 63 yards, three rushes for 49 yards – including a 14-yard TD run late – and even played some at quarterback, completing the only pass he threw.

“We feel like he’s a guy who can make some plays with his hands on the ball,” Spurrier said. “We need to get it to him more often.”

Spurrier hopes Newton is the solution to South Carolina’s running problems. The Gamecocks have rushed for fewer than 80 yards a game this season, last in the Southeastern Conference and 114th out of 117 NCAA Division I-A teams.

Newton said his last extensive action at tailback came in high school.

So far, Newton’s not suffering from X’s-and-O’s overload. As a quarterback, he was well-schooled in what his runners and wideouts were doing. The only problem he encountered working in the backfield? Blocking.

“It’s difficult kind of picking up the blitzes and stuff, meeting linebackers and having to hit D-ends and stopping blitzes,” Newton says. “But the rest of it is OK.”

Especially, when a hole opens up and Newton bursts through. “You get to go straight down hill,” he said.

“Syvelle is a very intelligent player and person, he really is,” Spurrier said. “He picks things up quickly.”

Virginia Tech downs Maryland

Marcus Vick was too elusive, and the relentless defense of No. 3 Virginia Tech proved too tough for a spirited Maryland team bent on revenge.

Vick ran for a career-high 133 yards and a touchdown, and the unbeaten Hokies pulled away in the second half to a 28-9 victory Thursday night in College Park, Md.

Mike Imoh had two touchdowns for Virginia Tech (7-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference), which scored 21 straight points after halftime to keep alive its hopes of playing for the national championship in January.

The Terrapins (4-3, 2-2) came in with a three-game winning streak and hopes of avenging a 55-6 defeat to the Hokies last November, but Vick wouldn’t let it happen.

Although he threw a career-high three interceptions – all in the third quarter – the little brother of Atlanta Falcons star Michael Vick averaged 8.3 yards per carry and completed 14 of 23 passes for 211 yards.

His 8-yard touchdown run in the second quarter made it 7-0, and he directed scoring drives of 81, 99 and 37 yards in the second half.

That was more than enough support for a defense that forced two turnovers and kept the Terrapins out of the end zone until Sam Hollenbach threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Fenner with 2:16 to go.

Trojans’ defense sparks win

Freshman Julian Foster was 12 for 19 for 150 yards and a touchdown to help lead Troy to an 18-13 win over Florida International (1-5, 0-2) in Sun Belt Conference play at Troy, Ala.

Defensive tackle Torre Lankford led a strong defensive effort with seven tackles for the Trojans (3-4, 2-1).