South Carolina began the Florida game ranked 92nd in the nation offensively with 367.1 yards per game. Against a good Gator defense, many experts predicted a low-scoring game.
They did not predict, however, that the Gamecocks would be held under 50 total yards through three quarters.
Despite a decent showing from their defense, the Gamecocks' offense — looking dazed and confused for three quarters — could not compete with the SEC East champions.
At the end of three quarters, five Florida players had more yards from scrimmage than all South Carolina players combined.
It took the Gamecocks a fourth down stop, a few tough runs and a trick play to energize the offense.
Knocking at the door and down 17-0 with just under nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, offensive coordinator G.A. Mangus called for the familiar “South Carolina Double Pass.” Quarterback Perry Orth threw a backwards pass to wide receiver Pharoh Cooper on his left. Orth then ran a wheel route and was hit in stride by Cooper, a former high school quarterback. The play went for 7 and completely shifted momentum.
After holding Florida to a three-and-out, the Gamecocks embarked on a five play, 79-yard drive capped by a 38-yard touchdown pass from Orth to Cooper.
Up by three, Florida got the ball back with less than 5 minutes left on the clock. However, the Gators, who converted 7-11 third downs in the first half, brought back their third down magic, converting a third-and-8 on a 53-yard run with running back Kelvin Taylor. Taylor then punched it in on the next play to put the Gators up 24-14.
Slow Starts
Saturday was the second straight week the Gamecocks fell behind early, only to nearly complete a second-half comeback.
Despite winning three games, the Gamecocks have not led at halftime this season. By falling into yet another hole, South Carolina doomed its chances of completing the upset. Through 10 games, the Gamecocks have averaged 3.2 points per first quarter and 8.8 yards per first half, while giving up an average of nearly 17 points.
Interim head coach Shawn Elliott acknowledged the slow starts in his postgame press conference but did not point to a single culprit.
"When you have missed assignments, you're not blocking successfully, you're not running the right play that's called,” Elliott said. “That tends to eliminate the points being put on the board."
Against Florida, the Gamecocks could not stay on the field. They ran only 21 plays in the first half and allowed the Florida offense to run 40 plays and hold possession for 19 seconds of the first half.
Offensive Struggles
Despite a stellar fourth quarter, the Gamecocks finished with just 201 total yards on 48 plays. Cooper finished as the team’s leading rusher with 16 yards on three carries on a day when the tailbacks combined for 12 carries and 27 yards.
Orth finished 13-24 with 163 yards, but 139 came in the fourth quarter. Without a consistent running game, Orth struggled to move the Gamecock offense.
Once again, it was a case of too little, too late for the offense.
“Not getting off the field”
Despite being held in check on first and second down, the Gators converted 11-19 third downs. After three drives, the Gators were 6-8 on third down. Co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke acknowledged the problem but could not pinpoint the solution.
“We tried everything,” Hoke said. “We pressured. We played zone. We played man. We had a tough time putting pressure on the quarterback whether we blitzed him, we zone-blitzed him, we man-blitzed him or we rushed four.”
Up Next
Falling to 3-7 eliminates South Carolina’s slim bowl chances. However, the team will continue to fight to end the year on a high note. They will be back in action next Saturday against The Citadel in Williams-Brice Stadium at noon.
The Gamecocks will then host No. 1 Clemson, seeking a monumental upset in the annual Palmetto Bowl.