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Recap: Gamecocks swarmed under in the Swamp, 20-7

Rico Fowdle looks for running room on Saturday
Rico Fowdle looks for running room on Saturday (Rico Dowdle looks for running room on Saturday)

Riding a three-game winning streak, South Carolina traveled to Gainesville, Fla. to square off with the Florida Gators Saturday afternoon at the Swamp. With both teams still alive in the SEC East race, the contest had major divisional and bowl game implications.

FINAL: Florida 20, South Carolina 7

USC: 0-0-0-7 = 7

FLA: 7-7-6-0 = 20

SCORING SUMMARY

1Q – FLA, Lewis 6-yard pass from Appleby (PAT Good), 11:17 (0-7)

2Q – FLA, Fulwood 14-yard pass from Appleby (PAT Good), 9:37 (0-14)

3Q – FLA, Pineiro 54-yard field goal, 7:28 (0-17)

3Q – FLA, Pineiro 36-yard field goal, 00:52 (0-20)

4Q – USC, Williams 1-yard run (PAT Good), 6:53 (7-20)

FIRST QUARTER: The Gamecocks had 2nd-and-2 on their opening series but couldn’t pick up the first down. The Gators got the ball near midfield after a nice punt return and quickly drove 56 yards in four plays for the first touchdown of the game with 11:17 left in the first quarter. Austin Appleby’s 33-yard scramble to the SC 6 set up a short pass to the right side for the score. Hayden Hurst dropped a potential first down pass over the middle and the Gamecocks punted for the second time. The Gamecocks punt coverage again allowed a decent return, this time for 33 yards. Poor tackling plagued the Gamecocks on the first couple of plays until Bryson Allen-Williams poked the ball out from Mark Thompson and Jamarcus King fell on it at the SC 24 for USC’s 21st takeaway of the season, tying them with Texas A&M for most in the SEC. USC’s first big play on offense came when Bentley’s screen pass to Samuel gained 29 yards to the UF 47, but the drive stalled and USC punted for the third time. Kelly’s punt was fair caught at the UF 5. The Gators escaped a 3rd-and-8 jam from the UF 19 with a 19-yard pass on a crossing pattern. Short to intermediate passes continued to work for the Gators as they moved to the SC 26 at the end of the first quarter.

END FIRST QTR: Florida 7, South Carolina 0.

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Long snapper Drew Williams makes a tackle in the first half
Long snapper Drew Williams makes a tackle in the first half (USA Today)

SECOND QUARTER: The Gamecocks got another big break early in the second quarter when the Gators mishandled the snap from the SC 5 and Bryson Allen-Williams scooped up the loose football and carried it out to the SC 14. Bentley connected with Hurst for a first down, but the next series ended with an incomplete pass on third down. The Gamecocks punted for the fourth time. Poor tackling bit the Gamecocks again on a 32-yard run by Scarlett. After a 24-yard pass in which Appleby thread the needle, he lofted an 18-yard TD pass to Fulwood into the left corner of the end zone to give UF a 14-0 lead with 9:37 left in the second quarter. The Gamecocks offense finally got the big play they were looking for when Bryan Edwards rose up and made a spectacular leaping catch at the UF 36 on a 3rd-and-6 play. However, the Gamecocks gave the ball back when Bentley was sacked and fumbled on third-and-15. The Gators recovered at the UF 37 with 3:58 left in the second quarter. The Gators went 3-and-out and punted. Chris Lammons fielded the punt but a UF player flew in and made dangerous helmet-to-helmet contact. Easy call for the officials. He was ejected for targeting. USC took over with 2:29 left in the 2Q. Again, they punted. Florida returned the punt for a touchdown, but a holding penalty nullified the return. T.J. Holloman snagged a deflected pass for an interception on UF’s first snap for the Gamecocks’ third takeaway in the first half. But just 30 seconds remained. Except for the three turnovers forced by the USC defense, a largely forgettable first half finally ended. The Gamecocks punted 5 times + fumbled in 6 meaningful first half possessions, gaining 104 yards.

HALFTIME: Florida 14, South Carolina 0.

THIRD QUARTER: The Gamecocks forced a three-and-out on Florida’s first possession of the second half, but the Gators punters boomed a 59-yard punt to the SC 28. The Gamecocks O-Line continued to struggle with the Gators defensive front as Bentley was sacked on second down. It was UF’s fourth sack of the afternoon. The Gators drove as far as the SC 36 in 4 plays before Eddy Piniero drilled a career long 54-yard field goal with 7:28 left in the 3Q, giving the Gators a 17-0 lead. Bentley was sacked for the 5th time on the afternoon on USC’s second possession of the third quarter and the Gamecocks punted again. Fulwood’s leaping 30-yard completion keyed a 9-play, 59-yard drive towards a 36-yard field goal by Pineiro with 52 seconds left in the third quarter. When the third quarter ended, the Gamecocks had 119 yards of total offense, just 36 yards on the ground.

END THIRD QTR: Florida 20, South Carolina 0.

FOURTH QUARTER: Jake Bentley’s first pass of the fourth quarter was intercepted, the first pick of his career after 15 quarters of football. However, the Gamecocks defense stopped Florida with a 3-and-out and took over at the 20 with 12 minutes left in the contest. The Gamecocks put together one of their best drives of the afternoon as Bentley completed passes to Edwards and Samuel totaling 33 yards along with a pass interference call. Rod Talley’s 19-yard gain on a swing pass positioned David Williams for a 1-yard TD plunge with 6:53 left in the game as the Gamecocks finally got on the board. Needing a 3-and-out, the USC defense allowed a pair of Florida first downs as the clock ran under 4 minutes remaining. After USC exhausted their timeouts, the Gators punted and the Gamecocks took over at the SC 18 with 2:58 left. Bentley connected with Hurst on a 47-yard completion to the UF 19. Another pass to Crosby picked up 13 yards. On fourth and 2, Bentley lofted a pass towards the middle of the end zone got Hurst, who looked open for a moment. He reached out, but couldn’t grab it as the Gators took over.

Gamecocks make a tackle in Saturday's loss
Gamecocks make a tackle in Saturday's loss (Gamecocks make a tackle in Saturday's loss)
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