COLUMBIA, S.C. — Florida was determined not to suffer a second straight letdown at the hands of South Carolina.
Reminiscent of last season’s blocked punt that inevitably cost the Gators a win over the Gamecocks, UF watched as its 17-0 lead slipped away in the fourth quarter.
Up just a trio of points and offensively stagnant in its own territory, Florida handed the ball off to Kelvin Taylor on third-and-8, hoping the junior running back would find space to get a first down.
But Taylor hoped he would score a touchdown.
The junior sprinted 53-yards in the waning minutes and scored from 1-yard out a play later to preserve the victory — and an undefeated run throughout the Southeastern Conference East division — as the Gators downed the Gamecocks 24-14 on Saturday in Columbia, South Carolina.