Florida was left but no choice but to roll the dice with red shirt freshman quarterback Skyler Mornhinweg on Saturday night at South Carolina, but so far the Gators have done as good a job as imaginable to take the pressure off their third string quarterback, using defense and the running game to their strength to take a first half lead in to the locker room. Florida leads South Carolina 14-6 at the half.
Mornhinweg has had to throw just two passes tonight, and he completed each for a total of just eight yards. Kevin Taylor has scored both touchdown for the Gators, each from at least 20 yards. Taylor has rushed for 70 yards in the game, with 59 yards resulting in a pair of touchdowns. The Gators defense has also been playing well in not allowing Connor Shaw or Mike Davis to beat them so far. Shaw has completed eight of 16 pass attempts for 105 yards and Davis has rushed for 49 yards. South Carolina has been held to two field goals and 154 yards of offense.
South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney has been slowed by a leg injury at times tonight, going in and out at various points. When he has been on the field though, he has had a bit of an impact with some good pressure and tackles for a loss in the first half.
Florida probably needs to win this game, otherwise they will have to win their final two games to become bowl eligible. A loss drops the Gator to 4-6 with games against Georgia Southern and Florida State remaining. South Carolina looks to keep the pressure on Missouri in the SEC East race as well.