COLUMBIA, S.C. — Last year, Florida trailed South Carolina by 17 points at home and rallied for an emotional win that catapulted the Gators to a spectacular finish to their season. 

This time, UF got off to a slow start Saturday and trailed USC by three points in the final quarter; on the road and in the rain. Different circumstances, sure, but maybe even more difficult ones. The end result, though, was the same. Credit the late-game heroics of fourth-year junior quarterback Kyle Trask, who fired three of his four scoring passes in the final period to lead the ninth-ranked Gators to a 38-27 come-from-behind victory over the Gamecocks in a pivotal Southeastern Conference East Division contest at Williams-Brice Stadium. 

To appreciate the significance of the outcome, remember it was this South Carolina team that went to Georgia last week and stunned the Bulldogs — unbeaten and ranked No. 3 at the time — in double-overtime. This week, the Gamecocks were home, confident, with chests poked out, and had a fourth-quarter lead before the Gators, far from at their best early in the game, erupted for 21 unanswered points. 

"Found a way to win," UF coach Dan Mullen said. "We've done that. We find ways to win as a team. We started really sloppy with execution, and not just [that] we didn't block, but guys running the wrong direction, getting the wrong signal, running the wrong plays. That was kind of disappointing. But we felt we had a good plan and we told the guys to just keep sticking with it." 
 
In this case, it was the precision passing of Trask, who wasn't so precise the first three quarters, but got sharp when it mattered most. How 'bout 5-for-6 for 64 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter? 

Trask's three consecutive scoring drives of the period— the first highlighted by a clutch fourth-down conversion pass; the next two aided by fortuitous penalties against the USC defense — ended, respectfully, with a 25-yard strike to wide receiver Freddie Swain for the lead, then touchdowns of five yards each to tight end Kyle Pitts and wideout Tre Grimes to open a 38-20 cushion with just over four minutes remaining. 

Trask finished 21 of 33 for 200 yards and the four scores, including a 37-yard strike to redshirt freshman Jacob Copeland in the first half, to go with one interception. He easily out-gunned USC counterpart Ryan Hilinski, who bounced back from a sprain knee that forced him from the Georgia game to complete 17 of 35 passes for 170 yards, one touchdown and a lost fumble. Hilinski's team stuck around thanks to a monster day rushing from tailback Tavien Feaster, who carried 25 times for 175 yards and a score. 

In the end, though, it was the Gators at their best when it mattered most. 

"We found our identity and started making plays," Trask said. 

And in doing so kept Florida (7-1, 4-1) pointed in the same (and right) direction: Toward a date with Georgia in Jacksonville on Nov. 2 in a game that will have a major bearing on the race for the SEC East championship and subsequent berth in the league championship game. South Carolina (3-4, 2-3) represented the first of four consecutive SEC East games for the Gators, who needed the win not only to keep pace in the division but to bounce back from last week's loss at then-No. 5 and unbeaten LSU. 

"We weren't going to let one loss turn into another," Florida senior linebacker David Reese said. 

The victory took on further meaning four hours later when No. 22 Missouri, unbeaten through two games in league place and alone atop the SEC East, was upset on the road at Vanderbilt, moving the Gators into sole possession of the top spot, a half-game up on Georgia (6-1, 3-1).

CHARTING THE GATORS 
Saturday's win marked the sixth time in Coach Mullen's two seasons that Florida won a game that it trailed in the fourth quarter. 

OPPONENT	DATE	DEFICIT	OUTCOME
LSU	Oct. 6, 2018	19-14 with 11:14 remaining	W 27-19
@Vanderbilt	Oct. 13, 2018	21-20 with 15:00 remaining	W 37-27
South Carolina	Nov. 10, 2018	31-17 with 13:43 remaining	W 35-31
vs Miami (Orlando)	Aug. 24, 2019	20-17 with 9:48 remaining	W 24-20
@Kentucky	Sept. 14, 2019	21-10 with 14:56 remaining	W 29-21
@South Carolina	Oct. 19, 2019	20-17 with 15:00 remaining	W 38-27

Things didn't start the most advantageously for the road team, but UF collectively and eventually settled in on a gloomy, damp day in the Palmetto State. 

"Coach always tell us they're going to get some plays, that they got guys on scholarship too," said UF sophomore Dameon Pierce, who had one of the biggest plays of the game at a most opportune time. "We always keep our head up and focus on the next play." 

On the game's second snap, Hilinski handed off to Feaster, who pivoted and pitched the ball back to Hilinski. The flea-flicker action ended with wideout Bryan Edwards pulling in a 41-yard reception down the middle of the field, despite tight coverage from cornerback CJ Henderson. Hilinski then hit Shi Smith for 14 yards across the middle on third-and-8 to the UF 10. The Gators appeared to have stopped the Gamecocks on a third-and-goal from the 2, but defensive tackle Luke Ancrum was called for offsides, nullifying a 6-yard loss. Tailback Mon Denson made good on the second chance with a 1-yard touchdown run and 7-0 at the 9:59 mark of the first quarter. 

"We have a very resilient team," Trask said. "We're not going to panic, no matter the situation."

True to his word, the Gators didn't panic. Trask began UF's second series with a 32-yard completion to Copeland (3 catches, 89 yards) into USC territory. The drive stalled and sophomore Evan McPherson popped a 48-yard field goal, tying his career high, to make it 7-3 with just over four minutes left in the opening period. Gamecocks kicker Parker White canceled out those points with a 49-yarder, also tying a career high, to reinstate that seven-point cushion at 10-3. Feaster's 36-yard run up the gut of the UF defense, from the SC 28 to the UF 36, set up the score. 

The Gators answered, having seemingly settled in after a tough start, with an eight-play, 75-yard drive, with a couple runs (Pierce for 3, Trask for 2) on third-and-1s along the way. Copeland jumped and hauled in a seam route on the left side and ran through his defender for a 32-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 10-all with just over 10 minutes left in the second quarter. 

"We showed we're a close-knit team," Trask said. 

The second half, though, started with a Florida thud. 

Trask tried to force a pass to Swain curling from the left side. The ball was intercepted by defensive back Jammie Robinson and returned 15 yards on the UF 20. On second down, Hilinski tried to force one, also. Chavis Dawkins was slanting into the end zone and the ball went through Henderson's hands. On third-and-10, Feaster took a draw up the middle for a 20-yard touchdown and 17-10 lead just 63 seconds into the period. 

Momentum swing? Not for long.

On the very next snap from scrimmage, Pierce took a handoff on the left side, got a clear-out block from pulling right guard Brett Heggie, ran through an arm tackle, then sped up the sideline while wideout Tyrie Cleveland provided a blocking escort on cornerback Israel Mukuamu the final 30 yards for the touchdown and a 17-all tie. The play was huge, given the timing. 

"I think that brought some juice and life to this team," Mullen said. "To avoid the negative start to the second half, it kind of changed it around." 
 
South Carolina retook the lead, courtesy of a 12-play, 72-yard drive that ultimately stalled deep and made the Gamecocks settle for a 31-yard field goal by White. A 13-yard run by Feaster, followed by runs of 25 and 14 by Denson put USC in position to go up again, 20-17, with 3:16 left in the third quarter. 

"We got the lead in the fourth quarter, got to make some plays," South Carolina coach Will Muschamp said. "We didn't do that."

Florida made it difficult. The next UF drive ended with a Tommy Townsend punt from the Gamecocks 43 that Van Jefferson caught and downed at the 2. Backed up to start the fourth quarter, USC gained nothing on two runs, then tried a bomb out of the end zone on third down that was defended well by Amari Burney to force a 48-yard punt that was fair caught by Swain at the UF 48. Great field position.

But Trask and the Gators faced a fourth-and-3 from at USC 34, too far (and too wet) for a game-tying field goal attempt. Mullen left his offense on the field. Trask dropped, was pressured, rolled to his left and stayed alive long enough to pitch a throw to Pitts, who posted up on his defending linebacker and caught a 9-yard reception to the 25. One snap later, Trask hit Swain up the right sideline, but only because the senior made a sensational adjustment to wheel around, get horizontal and make a diving, go-ahead, touchdown-scoring play. 

"I was giving him a chance," Trask said of Swain. "I know he's a great playmaker. He got an opportunity to make one and really came through for us." 

More big plays followed. South Carolina's next possession ended suddenly when Zach Carter smothered Hilinski, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Kyree Campbell at the USC 29.

"I just read the offensive tackle's stance and got off the ball," Carter said. "I made a play for my team." 

Trask needed just three plays — and a huge defensive holding call on cornerback Jaycee Horn to nullify his own end-zone interception — to find Pitts for a 5-yard touchdown and 31-20 lead with 7:53 to go in the game and push the lead to 11. 

The Gamecocks gave the ball back on downs at their 38 with 7:12 to go. A 12-yard run by Lamical Perine, then another pass-interference penalty against Horn set up the final TD toss that went to Grimes on third-and-goal from the 5. It put UF comfortably ahead, 38-20, with 4:03 to play. 

In the bigger picture, and heading into a bye week, the Gators' big fourth quarter kept them in an enviable position relative to their preferred penultimate destination. 

"You're heading into November in control of your own destiny and what's going to happen," Mullen said. "That's where we want to be and where we're expected to be at Florida."