Junior tailback Kelvin Taylor’s 1-yard touchdown run with 2:01 remaining iced a 24-14 victory for the Florida Gators over upset-minded South Carolina in their Southeastern Conference game Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium. (GatorZone Image)
GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA (GatorZone.com) – Junior tailback Kelvin Taylor’s 1-yard touchdown run with 2:01 remaining iced a 24-14 victory for the Florida Gators over upset-minded South Carolina in their Southeastern Conference game Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.
Taylor’s score came one play after he took off on spectacular 53-yard run on a third-and-8 from the UF 46.
The Gators opted to play it safe and leave matters to their defense after the Gamecocks seized momentum by scoring touchdowns on back-to-back drives in the fourth period, but Taylor popped through the line, broke a tackle and sped to the USC 1.
He then finished the drive a play later, barreling into the end zone to give UF its double-digit cushion back.
Jim McElwain
“The art of winning is hard, guys. It’s hard [and], I don’t care who you are,” said Florida coach Jim McElwain said.
“We never had any panic. They played in the moment, in the now and figured out a way to sweep the East. Ain’t a bad gig, man. Let’s get excited about it.”
The win wrapped Florida’s conference schedule, as the Gators (9-1, 7-1), winners of three straight and having clinched the SEC East Division title last week, now have a pair of non-league games — home against Florida Atlantic and Florida State — before facing the West Division champ (likely Alabama) in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 5 at Atlanta.
