COLUMBIA, S.C. — For the fifth time in six games, the Gators lost on Saturday. For the third time in four games, they have mistakes in pivotal situations to thank for the loss.
And Will Muschamp is tired of it.
“We’ve had three ballgames where we’ve had our opportunities,” he said. “It comes back to turnovers (and) critical errors when you’ve got to make plays.”
In Saturday’s 17-12 loss, Florida turned the ball over on the second play of the game and again in the second quarter. The second giveaway, a Jeff Demps fumble, led to the Gamecocks’ second touchdown of the game, extending their lead to 14-3.
Then, with the Gators down by just two in the fourth quarter, South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw hit Ace Sanders on a 46-yard pass over cornerback Jaylen Watkins, setting up a field goal.
“You’ve got to make a play on the ball down the field when you’re in a situation where it’s a field-goal game,” Muschamp said.
“We’ve got to execute in those situations, and that comes back on me. We’ve got to do a better job coaching, a better job in those critical downs and those critical situations.”
With the loss to South Carolina (8-2, 6-2 Southeastern Conference), Florida (5-5, 3-5 SEC) finished its first season under Muschamp with a losing record in the SEC for the first time since divisions were created. It’s the first time the Gators have finished under .500 in the conference since 1986.
Florida had an opportunity near the end to win the game, but the offense got the ball with just 42 seconds left to play at its own 11-yard line. South Carolina, which started the previous drive with 5:34 remaining, was able to bleed the clock out in much the same way it controlled the entire game: rushing the ball down the Gators’ throats.
But when questioned about the team suffering a lapse in the fourth quarter, Muschamp got defensive.
“There wasn’t no lapse. What was the lapse in the end?” he said. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. We made a stop at the end. I don’t know what you’re talking about. What lapse at the end? We made a stop and got the ball back. Had a chance.”
On the last drive for South Carolina, Shaw and running back Brandon Wilds carried the ball a combined nine times for 37 yards. Florida had a chance to force a three-and-out, but defensive tackle Dominique Easley jumped offside to extend the drive — exactly the type of critical mistake that has plagued the Gators throughout their worst season in 25 years.
“I’m sure he’s disappointed, but it’s not his fault at all,” defensive tackle Omar Hunter said. “That game is not his fault. You can pick on anybody for the game, for that loss. I’ll take the blame. (John) Brantley, he’ll take some of the blame. It goes on everyone.”
Although the score was close at the end, there was plenty of blame to spread around.
The haggard offensive line, which was the site of another experimentation with personnel, was again terrible, allowing Brantley to be knocked around all afternoon.
Twice the Gators went backward inside the red zone, settling for field goals.
After putting the ball on the ground twice, they have 24 fumbles on the season and a minus-10 turnover margin, which is tied with FAU for 113th nationally.
“Just got to play different guys,” Muschamp said of UF’s problems coughing it up.
Also, the defensive line could not stop the Gamecocks, as they rushed for 215 yards while running on fumes, starting an inexperienced quarterback and a backup running back.
In four straight losses in October, the Gators were abused at the line of the scrimmage, as opponents rushed an average of 46 times, compared to only 22.3 pass attempts.
That trend continued Saturday, as South Carolina rushed 52 times and passed just 13.
Asked to assess his team’s play in the trenches, a clearly agitated Muschamp was succinct.
“Not very good,” he said. “Real simple.”
Contact Matt Watts at mwatts@alligator.org.
Florida coach Will Muschamp was frustrated by the turnovers and mistakes in crucial moments during Saturday’s loss to South Carolina.
