The Gators are now 5-5 after a disappointing game featuring big plays & big disappointments.  Brantley just could not seem to get going, Demps & Rainey had some huge runs, and ultimately the Gators were outmatched by the Gamecocks.

After such a promising 4-0 start, the Gators have now lost 5 of the last 6 games. Sure, we can attribute some of that to the most difficult schedule in college football, Brantley getting injured, a new coach & offensive coordinator, etc. But, damn, 5 out of 6.

The Gators simply looked limited yesterday against South Carolina and turnovers spoiled their chances of pulling out a win against an imperfect Gamecocks lineup that has itself been plagued by the injury of star running back, Marcus Lattimore.

UF & USC traded big plays in the 4th quarter and the Gators were in contention, but the Gamecocks controlled the clock, converted and got first downs – leaving UF with only 42 seconds to score a touchdown. A few short passes materialized, but ultimately the Gators fell short and are now 5-5.

Many Gator fans, including this one, are now looking to 2012 with hopefulness & optimism. With Thanksgiving coming up, I guess we should be thankful for what we have – 2 rings and a young team?

Brantley: 13 for 21 for 119 yards, 3 sacks, 0 TD’s

Rainey: 17 rushes for 132 yards

Demps: 9 rushes for 33 yards

Gametime: Columbia, SC (November 12th – Noon on CBS)

The Florida Gators, coming off their first win in 5 games, travel to Columbia, South Carolina to face Steve Spurrier & the 7-2 Gamecocks. Kickoff is at noon for this annual matchup between 2 SEC perennial threats. This will be the 5th nationally televised game for the Gators against the 5th top 25 team, further explaining  UF’s difficulties this season. Widely acknowledged as having the hardest schedule in college football, UF looks to finish out the season strong against South Carolina, Furman & FSU. With Brantley back the Gators lineup is closer to its early season form.

Last week, the Gamescocks lost to another top ranked SEC team, Arkansas who handed them a 44-28 loss in Fayetteville. Jeff Demps, coming off a big game for the Gators, will help take the pressure off Brantley, hopefully allowing for some big yardage throws and spreading of the field.

UF Football has dominated South Carolina over the 31 total games played in the series. Florida leads 10-4-1 when the game is played Columbia, SC. Ironically, Brantley was born in Columbia, SC. Where the Gators really have room for improvement is on 3rd down conversions, where the Gators are 37/111 on the year, an anemic 33%.

Demps & Rainey currently rank 3rd & 4th among SEC rushers in total careers yards, with 2,395 (Demps) & 2,129 (Rainey). Trent Richardson (Alabama) leads the conference with 2,529 and is certainly NFL bound in 2012.

The Gator Nation has alot to look forward to, especially next year, as other teams in the SEC will graduate more starting players than the Gators and UF will segway from a “transition year” into a more established system & program.

The game didn’t start out so good for either team. The first quarter was a mess. On the opening drive for the Florida Gators, Feshman Quarterback Jacoby Brissett came in for one plat and completed a tough pass to red shirt junior Tight End Omarius Hines for what looked to be a 40 yard completion and a wonderfully executed play. Unfortunately Hines fumbled the ball and Vanderbilt recovered. It wasn’t just bad for the Gators though. Vanderbilt actually drove all the way down the field on the opening drive to miss a field goal. The Gators got the ball back and drove down the field to setup a Caleb Sturgis field goal, which he missed. At this point there was about a minute and a half of time left in the first quarter and thank god, because it was a bad one.  The rest of the game was defined by our running game. Senior tailback, Jeff Demps rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns which included a 52-yard touchdown run with 2:13 left in the fourth quarter.  He faked the Vanderbilt cornerback out so bad that his knees buckled and he fell to the floor as Demps cruised on by. It was great. This last score for the Gators put them up 26 – 14. The pesky Commodores wouldn’t go away though. Jordan Rogers, Vanderbilt Quarterback an younger brother of NFL great Aaron Rodgers, led his team 80 yards down the field to score a touchdown with 1:16 left to go making the game a little bit more exciting, for a couple of minutes. Vanderbilt attempted an onside kick that was recovered by the Gators and the rest is history.

John Brantley may have re-injured his ankle as he sat out the last couple of series in the game. Hopefully it’s not too serious because it is obvious we can’t win without him. Even though we had our rushing game going, he was the one that commanded the offense and steered the ship.

Jacksonville, 10/29/2011: “The World’s Largest Cocktail Party”

Florida domination, Bulldog frustration, that has been the keynote for many fans who have enjoyed (or not enjoyed- sorry Athens) the FLA vs GA rivalry. The Gators are 18-3 over the last 21 meetings! Georgia last won in 2007 with Matthew Stafford.

John Brantley back for the Gators this week, with UF looking to salvage this season by winning out the rest of the year.

3:30 pm: Brantley gets the start for the Gators, with the quarterback shuffle continuing.

3:36 pm: Gators receive the kickoff, Rainey runs it out to the 45, but it gets called back. On the first play of the game, Demps runs for 72 yards!!!

3:39 pm: Missed ball by Rainey, then a missed field goal by Phillips ( Caleb Sturgis injured against Auburn)

3:43 pm: Georgia’s first offensive possession – wide open receivers, Gator penalty, then a big stop on 3rd down

2nd Gator Offensive Possession: Brantley to Rainey for 20 yards! 2nd consecutive 1st down, completed pass to Thompson, Trey Burton with another first down- Gator’s cruising!

3:52 pm: Brantley throws one away. Rainey stopped behind the line of scrimmage. Possibly injured.

3:56 pm: Rainey off the field, pass to Demps interrupted by the ref

4:02 pm: Gators go for it on 4th & 19, deep pass to Jordan Reed against the 6 man blitz, TOUCHDOWN GATORS!

4:08 pm: Gators intercept the ball in Bulldog territory- 3 wasted opportunities and hesitation by Brantley.

4th & 35 – going for it! Outcome = Nope, Gators end up punting on 4th & 35

4:12 pm: Bulldogs run it for a 30 yard gain

4:22 pm: Georgia converts on 3rd down to enter the red zone for the first time. Georgia 15/26 on the season for RZ touchdown conversions (58%)

4:28 pm: Start of 2nd Quarter- Murray reads the blitz and escapes by the skin of his teeth. Georgia field goal.

4:32 pm: Gators 7 – Georgia 3

4:35 pm: Demps runs back the kick for the a TOUCHDOWN! 14-3 Gators

4:47 pm: Gators held to a field goal, Brad Phillips converts,

4:48 pm: 17-3 Gators

4:56 pm: UGA has the biggest offensive lineman in college football, at 329 lbs average

4:58 pm: Bulldogs driving down the field, eating up lots of time, but controlling the clock. Field goal MISSED! 17-3 Florida Gators

5:00 pm: Chris Rainey back in the game

5:03 pm: Florida turnover (by Rainey), NOOOOOOO, deep in Gator territory, the Bulldogs get the ball

5:06 pm: UGA goes for it on 4th & 5- Bulldogs convert on an incredible catch by Michael Bennett.

5:10 pm: UF driving with about a minute left before halftime, Brantley limping slightly after a big hit, :45 seconds remaining, Brantley misfires, nothing.

Gators 17-10 at HALFTIME

5:55 pm: UGA’s Murray injured on a run out of the pocket.
Punt by Georgia- dumb penalty by UF’s Floyd

6:03 pm: UF turns it over, again. Recovered by Georgia

6:07 pm: Bulldogs go for it on 4th down & 6, touchdown.

17-17

6:11 pm: Andre Debose with a long kickoff return for 63 yards. Gators start at the 26!

6:13 pm: UF Gators held to a field goal

20-17 Gators

6:21 pm: 3rd down, deep in Florida territory, outcome = Georgia pass knocked down by UF’s Watkins (#14). Georgia’s kicker is 13 of 21 on the season prior to this attempt, then the poor bastard misses another one! Go Gators!

6:27 pm: Multiple delay of game penalties on the Gator offense. 3rd & 20 with :46 seconds left in the 3rd quarter – Brantley deep to Jordan Reed – no catch, no call. Forced to punt from the end zone. Fair catch by the Bulldogs.

20-17 Gators at the end of the 3rd Q

6:37 pm: Georgia driving, Gators with minus 26 yards rushing on the game to this point.

Touchdown Bulldogs.

24-20 Georgia

6:43 pm: Squibb kick, Rainey takes it to the 34 yd line. Burton in at QB running the wildcat

7:00 pm: The Gators get the ball after a short punt with a favorable bounce (for UF)….

7:02 pm: Gators at 4th & 2 show wildcat with Trey Burton, Georgia time out, Jacoby Brissett comes in, play clock down to zero, forced to punt after a delay of game penalty. C

7:05 pm: Christy punts it inside the 5!

7:07 pm: Gators hold GA to 3 and out! Short punt, ruled down at the 35 yard line!

7:11 pm: Gators going for it on 4th & 10 – time out called

BRANTLEY SACKED!

2:28 left, 2nd & 9, Georgia converts for the 1st down.

Georgia runs out the clock on a succession of running plays, nearly scoring on the final attempt to kill time.
Final Score Georgia Bulldogs 24 – Florida Gators 20