South Carolina vs. Florida Post-Game Notes

Nov. 12, 2011

GENERAL NOTES

After Saturday’s 17-14 win over Florida, the Gamecocks finish SEC play with a perfect 5-0 record against SEC Eastern Division opponents for the first time in school history. The Gamecocks have also won six games in the SEC for the first time in school history.
South Carolina now has back-to-back wins over the Gators for the first time since 1936 and 1939.
Steve Spurrier is now 3-4 as the South Carolina head coach against his alma mater after two-straight victories over the Gators.
After giving up a field goal in the first quarter to Florida, the Gamecocks have surrendered the first points of the game in all 10 games this season and in 13 straight games dating back to last season. South Carolina is 9-4 in those 13 contests despite the early deficits.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

Junior wide receiver Alshon Jeffery tied Kenny McKinley on the all-time receiving yards list in South Carolina history with 2,781 yards on a 14-yard pass from Connor Shaw during South Carolina’s first offensive possession of the game. Jeffery passed McKinley in the second quarter on a three-yard pass from Bruce Ellington to finish the day with 17 yards on two receptions.
Senior kicker Jay Wooten’s 40-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter was his first attempt since Kentucky on October 8, 2011. Wooten also added a 28-yard kick in the fourth quarter. The Gamecocks are still the only team in the country to not have a field goal attempt of less than 40 yards this season.
Sophomore quarterback Connor Shaw collected his fourth and fifth rushing touchdowns of the year in the second quarter. The first score came on a 10-yard run which gave the Gamecocks a 7-3 lead and the second on keeper from one-yard out.
Shaw’s 46-yard pass to Ace Sanders matches his previous career high pass play of 46 yards which came on a connection to freshman tight end Rory Anderson against Kentucky. The play was also the longest South Carolina offensive play since the aforementioned play against the Wildcats.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

True freshman Brison Williams made his first career start on Saturday. He is the 20th Gamecock to make his first start this season.
Junior cornerback Stephon Gilmore collected his first sack and his first forced fumble of the season on Florida’s first drive of the game. Junior defensive end Devin Taylor collected his second fumble recovery of the season on the play.
Freshman defensive end Jadeveon Clowney recorded his fifth forced fumble of the season in the second quarter. The play ties Clowney with LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu for the most forced fumbles in the SEC with 0.50 per game (LSU faces Western Kentucky at 7 p.m.). Rodney Paulk recovered the fumble for his first recovery of the season.
Senior defensive end Melvin Ingram’s quarterback sack in the fourth quarter brings his total to 6.5 on the season. The total ties him with Auburn’s Corey Lemonier for the second most sacks in the SEC (Auburn faces Georgia at 3:30 p.m.).
The 47-yard rush by Florida’s Chris Rainey was the longest allowed by the Gamecocks this season. The previous high was a 30-yard rush by Navy’s Gee Gee Greene on September 17, 2011.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

Freshman Bruce Ellington’s 31-yard kickoff return in the third quarter was his second longest of the season. Ellington also added a fourth quarter return of 30- yards and finished the day with 103 kickoff return yards on four attempts.