Before this weekend, the highlight of junior halfback Keiland Williams’ season was a touchdown pass he threw to help LSU escape Auburn with a win on Sept. 20.But Williams made plays in a more conventional way this weekend for the Tigers and rushed for 72 yards on 15 carries to help the Tigers earn a 24-17 win against South Carolina.”I had confidence out there,” Williams said. “I felt I was making the right cuts and contributing and helping the team.”The Tigers outrushed the Gamecocks, 164-39, for the game, which allowed LSU to control time of possession by nearly 10 minutes. Junior halfback Charles Scott added 61 yards and two touchdowns for LSU while sophomore halfback Richard Murphy and sophomore quarterback Andrew Hatch combined for 37 yards on 10 carries.Using multiple running backs and shuffling quarterbacks against South Carolina helped LSU find a winning formula heading into Saturday’s home game against No. 7 Georgia. Scott said the Tigers’ ability to always have a fresh ball carrier in the game helped the Tigers wear down the South Carolina defense and outscore the Gamecocks, 14-0, in the final 30 minutes.”When we have more guys doing more, it makes the team look stronger,” Scott said. “When you can mix it up on a team and they don’t know what’s coming at them, it’s always an advantage for the team.” Senior offensive guard Herman Johnson said the internal competition between the LSU halfbacks creates a situation where all of the runners are trying to earn more playing time.”We just have too many backs,” he said. “It’s hard for them to all get reps. But once they get in, they all are doing their best to make a good impression to the coaches, and that helps our offense.”Scott said he wasn’t surprised by the way Williams performed because he expected a halfback-by-committee scheme before the season.”Everyone knew he had it,” he said. “They gave him the ball and he made it happen. That’s what he always does.” One way the Tigers kept the Gamecocks off balance was by showcasing a formation where Scott was lined up at fullback and Williams at tailback.LSU coach Les Miles praised offensive coordinator Gary Crowton’s use of the formation against the Gamecocks and said it had South Carolina’s defense on its heels for the majority of the second half.”I like what we did with Charles Scott at the fullback spot,” Miles said. “He can block from there, and he’ll carry the football from fullback. It gives them another personnel group that they have to prepare for, and it brings quality characteristics to our football team.”The use of Hatch and redshirt freshman quarterback Jarrett Lee also kept South Carolina off balance.Hatch has been used mostly as a runner since being injured against Auburn. But Crowton allowed Hatch to throw the ball in the red zone Saturday, which resulted in a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Richard Dickson to tie the game at 17.Crowton also called an option play with Lee in the game — a play that had typically been reserved for Hatch.Hatch said each quarterback being known as a dual threat will prohibit teams from getting a read on LSU’s offense.”You never know what we’ll throw at them,” Hatch said. “We’re both comfortable throwing and running, so we’re prepared, we’re comfortable and the coaches will see how it’s playing out and how they want to attack it.” Scott said regardless if he’s lined up at halfback, fullback or somewhere else, the only thing important to him is winning games.”There is no difference to me between any of the positions,” he said. “I love playing fullback. I liked doing it during camp, and I stuck with it.”—-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]