Missing the moment: In a prove-it game, South Carolina falls short vs. No. 12 Ole Miss

Saturday was supposed to be about South Carolina proving something.

Proving that the Gamecocks didn’t need that defector, Juice Wells. Proving that South Carolina’s defense was truly menacing, that no offensive whiz could shut down Kyle Kennard and Dylan Stewart. Proving that USC was a real threat, worthy of all the hype and praise that should have come after the LSU game.

Instead, in their 27-3 loss to No. 12 Ole Miss, the Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2 SEC) proved that they are still outmatched against the SEC’s elite, and that it’s hard to tell how close South Carolina is to rising because it can’t get out of its own way.

Perhaps it’s silly to dive into the minutiae of a game that was clearly dominated by one side, but at every moment when South Carolina could have flipped its fortune or conjured up a sliver of momentum, it slammed into a wall.

“I’m shocked at the way that we played, to be frank and completely honest with you,” head coach Shane Beamer said.

What went wrong against Ole Miss?

It started on the first offensive series of the game, a drive that for some reason did not include starting running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders. Faced with a fourth-and-1 in their own territory, the Gamecocks lined up to punt, pushing the Beamer Ball button to the shock of absolutely no one.

Ole Miss (5-1, 1-1 SEC) loaded the box. South Carolina snapped it directly to tight end Maurice Brown. He didn’t gain a yard. The Rebels punched in a touchdown a minute and a half later.

“I thought we had a good call, (it) was something we’ve been repping since August,” Beamer noted. “Not very good on my part. Certainly wish I could have that one back. Thought we could get a yard.”

South Carolina got the ball back and seemed to abandon its offensive script, choosing cute over comfortable. The Gamecocks put in backup quarterback Robby Ashford, who fumbled without being touched. The Rebels punched in another touchdown three minutes later.

If that was simply bad luck, what South Carolina soon followed with was questionable coaching decisions.

Ole Miss had the ball with just over a minute left when Kennard sacked quarterback Jaxon Dart for minus-7 yards. There was a flag on the play for holding on the Rebels — which meant Beamer had two options: Put Ole Miss in first-and-20 or second-and-17. He chose the first option, and the Rebels were on the goal line three plays later.

“I don’t really remember (that play),” Beamer said after the game. “I’ll have an answer (Sunday) night” on his weekly teleconference.

Early in the second half, it felt like Beamer wanted to grab one of the white towels South Carolina hands out and start waving it in front of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. Facing a fourth-and-4 with his team down 21 points, Beamer sent out kicker Alex Herrera to keep a three-score game a three-score game.

Herrera’s kick missed. Beamer looked like a man who just drained his life savings on a blackjack hand. He let out a sigh and tilted his head back.

Those are not the decisions or plays that ultimately doomed South Carolina. Those are just the decisions or plays that ensured the Gamecocks had zero chance of their biggest upset in two years.

Ole Miss outgained South Carolina 425-315. It had six QB sacks to the Gamecocks’ one.

USC quarterback LaNorris Sellers returned from his ankle injury suffered against LSU and started Saturday’s game. He finished 20 of 32 passing for 162 yards and an interception. He ran the ball 15 times for 55 yards but lost 25 yards on sacks.

South Carolina also had a number of untimely penalties — eight total for 90 yards — continuing a season-long trend of this Gamecocks team being undisciplined.

“(This is) the most disappointed I’ve ever been as a head football coach in the way we played,” Beamer said. “And that starts with me.”

South Carolina was called offsides four times in three quarters, each instance coming when Ole Miss faced third-and-long.

Also on third down: Stewart, the star true freshman pass rusher, sacked Dart — which should have set up an Ole Miss punt, except that Stewart stood over Dart and pretended he had a shotgun, then mimicked shooting the Ole Miss quarterback.

A flag flew. Ole Miss got a first down.

South Carolina — once again — proved it’s impossible to beat an opponent when you can’t stop beating yourself.

Next South Carolina game

Who: South Carolina at Alabama

When: Oct. 12, noon

Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

TV: ABC