What an exciting game in the swamp, sloppy though, lots of turnovers and penalties. The first half was dominated by D and special teams. Gamecocks front four were strong. Particularly Clowney (7) was unstoppable on the South Carolina front line. They pressured Driskel (6) all half, and shut down the pass and the run. On the bright side, having no offense set up UF's punter Christy (4) to probably be player of the game. Gator's D was strong too, quick with great pass defense.

 

Gators didn't get a first down until near the end of the first half, but that didn't prevent them from scoring. Linebacker McCray (34) recovered a fumble near the goal line setting up the gators 1st quarter TD. The Gamecocks put up a field goal in the first. Gators almost picked up a 2nd first quarter TD on a bomb pass to Hines (20). He pulled in a slightly overthrown deep TD pass with one hand, but it got called back on a low block.

 

UF got a punt block in the 2nd, and then accidentally picked it up for deep negative yards and almost a fumble, instead of leaving it on the field for a normal recovery position. Later in the 2nd Brown (8) recovered a fumble for Florida off a Christy punt. At 4:44 in the 2nd Burton (8) at QB got UF's first first down on a wildcat run, setting up a TD.

 

The last two minutes of the of the half were intense.

 

Gators came out from half time with a new offensive game plan--don't hang out behind the o-line--quick passes and outside runs. UF opened up with a powerful opening drive down the full field for a TD. They out did their first half offense in the first two minutes of the second half. Gillislee (23) was the workhorse for the second half. Reed (11) had a few big plays: passing, rushing and special teams. Burton (8) and Brissett (12) both got some QB time.

 

Reed had a break-away run, and almost broke the last defender. Then he barely missed a deep TD pass, setting up a short field goal that snuck through the left side. Driskel hooked up with Dunbar (1) over the middle, then Frankie Hammond, Jr. (85) for a short TD pass. Reed picked up difficult on-side kick and ran for great field position. Jones (24) had a had a great run up the middle to the two yard line. Then Brissett handed off to Jones for TD nose dive. The last big play of the game was a Dunbar (21) interception for the Gators. Then UF kept it on the ground and ran the clock down to win 44-11. In the end it looked like a blowout. But it didn't seem that way all game as the Gators battled for every yard.