Potential Heisman Trophy candidate Marcus Lattimore continues to shoulder the Gamecocks

Potential Heisman Trophy candidate Marcus Lattimore continues to shoulder the load for South Carolina.

Navy, meanwhile, has assembled the most potent rushing attack in the country thanks to a team effort.

The 10th-ranked Gamecocks and the Midshipmen will surely look to establish the run early and often as both try to stay undefeated Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.

After running for 112 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-37 win over East Carolina on Sept. 3, Lattimore rushed for 176 last Saturday and put South Carolina (2-0) up for good with a late TD in a 45-42 victory at Georgia.

“It’s a great back and we had to keep going to him,” coach Steve Spurrier said. “He gives us hope to make any kind of run.”

Since the start of last season, no one in the SEC has compiled more rushing yards than Lattimore’s 1,485. His 21 rushing TDs in that span rank second in the league behind Mississippi State’s Vick Ballard (23).

Lattimore even has five of the team’s 21 receptions this year.

“We know as a whole we haven’t played our best game,” he said. “Like I said, it starts in practice, keeping the intensity up.”

While Lattimore has - for the most part - single-handedly carried the Gamecocks’ ground game, Navy (2-0) has used its famed triple-option to record an NCAA-leading 801 rushing yards.

Quarterback Kriss Proctor, who has attempted just 14 passes this season, leads the team with 199 rushing yards and three TDs. He is one of six Midshipmen to run for at least 70 yards.

“They run the triple option with fullback, quarterback and pitch guys so we’ll have our hands full slowing down these guys,” Spurrier said. “Their coach has done an unbelievable job. … They just play very well and don’t beat themselves. They know how to run the ball.”