A Tommy Suggs fumble at the USC 33 recovered by Mike Fitzpatrick, set up the game's first score with a Pugh 24-yard field goal giving Duke a 3–0 lead.

The Gamecocks had a 10–3 lead at the half thanks to a Rudy Holloman 60 yard rushing touchdown, and a 30-yard field goal from Billy DuPre.

DuPre 37-yard field goal in the 4th quarter gave SC the lead back 13–10, but Duke's QB Hart responded with 79 yard, 8 play drive, capped off by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Wes Chesson.

With just under 11 minutes to play, Dietzel gambled on 4th and two, Gamecock QB Tommy Suggs faked a handoff and ran a 48-yard touchdown, darting through the right tackle without a single Duke player touching him giving SC a 20–17 lead.

With only one minute and twenty five seconds left, the Gamecocks completed a 12 play scoring drive, beginning at their own 25 yard line.