Gut punch at home: Late scores lift Florida past South Carolina in SEC football clash
It felt like a must-win game for both sides — like the rest of the season could be determined on which program played the better game. More importantly, which team would play a complete 60-minute game?
So, of course Saturday’s game at Williams-Brice Stadium came down to the final minutes.
South Carolina lost at home for the first time this season to Florida, 41-39, after the Gators scored two touchdowns in the game’s final five minutes.
The Gamecocks fell to 2-4 (1-3 SEC), while Florida improved to 5-2 (3-1 SEC).
“Certainly this is a gut-wrenching loss. I get it,” coach Shane Beamer said. “We didn’t make enough plays. They made the plays when they counted.”
THE FINISH GOES TO FLORIDA
It wasn’t touchdown-for-touchdown all Saturday afternoon, but it was a shootout. Both teams combined for over 950 yards of offense.
South Carolina’s offense struggled at times responding to Florida’s, but the Gamecocks defense came up with a handful of stops that forced big-time field goals from Gator kicker Trey Smack — a 48-yarder, then a 44-yarder, a 28-yarder at the half and, to cap it off, a 54-yarder.
USC’s Spencer Rattler and Florida quarterback Graham Mertz went toe-to-toe all afternoon. Similar stats, efficiency rating — it was just about how reached the end zone more. At first, that was Rattler.
When Smack came out for the fifth Gators field-goal attempt, Tyreek Johnson got his hand up just high enough to bat the ball down. Rattler then found Joshua Simon in the end zone to make it a two-score game, and it felt like all was well for the Gamecocks.
But Mertz and his career-high 423 passing yards steamrolled the USC defense, with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Arlis Boardingham with 4:40 to go and a 21-yard TD to Ricky Pearsall with 47 seconds left to take the lead.
After that, Rattler’s first interception at home sealed the win with 20 seconds to play.
SUPER MARIO (AND BROS)
He walked into Williams-Brice Stadium with a Mario of Nintendo fame hat, and that was enough for Gamecock fans to buy into it. Mario Anderson, in the first half alone, had 90 net yards, 63 rushing, and a touchdown.
That touchdown included a hurdle over Florida safety Miguel Mitchell that had Williams-Brice oohing and aahing as the former Division II running back tied the game at 21-all nearing halftime.
Juju McDowell scored two touchdowns for South Carolina, including a 3-yard completion that put the Gamecocks on top to start the fourth quarter. Rattler rushed for 46 yards, and McDowell followed behind with 17.
It feels like the Gamecocks struggled to win the run game all season long, but this week USC had more total rushing yards than Florida, 152-71. (The Gators lost 21 yards on their final possession as they ran out the clock.)
NO SANDSTORM MAGIC
Maybe it’s the adrenaline from the Sandstorm, the comfort of playing at Williams-Brice or the sold-out, state fair weekend chaos. But one thing’s clear: South Carolina could count on being successful on its home field in 2023 — until Saturday.
USC is now significantly behind the ball toward six wins and bowl eligibility. The Gators had yet to win a road game all season, but the Gamecocks’ fourth-quarter defensive collapse snapped a four-game home winning streak that dated back to November 2022 (vs. Tennessee).
Now, USC is heading on the road for back-to-back games in search of its first win away from home.
“Two tough road games coming up,” Rattler said. “We’ll see what we’re about.”
Next South Carolina game
Who: South Carolina at Missouri
When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21
Where: Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo.
TV: SEC Network
