Some Wins Just Mean More

Gators receiver Ricky Pearsall celebrates his game-winning touchdown catch as a pair of South Carolina defenders linger in end zone. (Photo: Molly Kaiser/UAA Communications)

Saturday, October 14, 2023 | Football, Scott Carter

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. — You know what they say about the Southeastern Conference. They don't always use the phrase in the context SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey probably prefers, but they use it. That is why the promotional slogan still resonates seven years after being introduced.

It Just Means More.

What transpired here at Williams-Brice Stadium on Saturday definitely meant more to the Gators than a typical conference road victory. The exhilaration spilled over when Florida safety Miguel Mitchell picked off Gamecocks quarterback Spencer Rattler's pass with less than 30 seconds left, almost clinching a comeback win to spoil a festive South Carolina homecoming.

Gators coach Billy Napier rushed toward players coming to the sideline to celebrate, then quickly refocused, considering South Carolina still had all its timeouts left. The Gators ran four plays — the final one an intentional safety out of the back of the end zone — before free-kicking to the Gamecocks, whose attempt at a miracle finish on the game's final play failed when Florida freshman Aaron Gates recovered a lateral.

Final score: Gators 41, Gamecocks 39.

Final take: A win to savor for Florida and a fourth-quarter comeback to remember.

"We came here today to prove something,'' Napier said. "What a way to win a football game. I'm just really proud of the team's resolve."

The Gators trailed 37-27 with a little more than nine minutes left when Rattler tossed a short pass to tight end Joshua Simon that resulted in a 33-yard score and a headache for UF safety Jordan Castell, who was on the wrong side of a collision when he tried to tackle Simon. The sold-out homecoming crowd roared as it appeared another Florida road trip would end with a glum flight back to the Sunshine State.

But the Gators, 1-7 away from home under Napier and losers of five consecutive away games and 15 of 17 since late in the 2020 season, pulled off the unexpected.

"We didn't do it just once,'' Napier said. "We did it twice."

The Gators (5-2, 3-1) rallied for two 75-yard touchdown drives for their most significant come-from-behind win on the road since Kyle Trask replaced injured quarterback Feleipe Franks at Kentucky in 2019 and engineered a comeback from 11 points down. In doing so, they prevented a familiar narrative from looming over the bye week.

The job belonged to UF quarterback Graham Mertz this time. Mertz had a career day, completing 30 of 48 passes for a career-high 423 yards and three touchdowns. The final two scoring passes — a 4-yarder to tight end Arlis Boardingham and a 21-yarder to Ricky Pearsall with 47 seconds left — lifted the Gators to a much-needed road win heading into the bye week and a matchup with No. 1-ranked Georgia in two weeks.

And Florida's defense chipped in right when it had to on a day when South Carolina (465 yards) nearly matched Florida's offensive output (494 yards).

Following Boardingham's touchdown catch to cut the lead to 37-34 with 4:11 remaining, the Gamecocks (2-4, 1-3) took over at their 27-yard line and drove to their 47. However, on third-and-10, Rattler's pass to Trey Knox went nowhere, forcing a punt.

The Gators again found a way. Boardingham kept their previous drive alive with a 14-yard catch-and-run for a first down on fourth-and-11 from South Carolina's 49, leaving the door open for what was to come.

On the nine-play, 75-yard game-winning drive, Mertz's first three passes dropped incomplete, setting up fourth-and-10 from UF's 25. He connected with Pearsall for a 26-yard gain and first down at the Gamecocks' 49. Two plays later, more Gators magic (and some luck) when Mertz threw a pass behind Pearsall. The ball bounced off Pearsall's hands and into the arms of receiver Eugene Wilson III, who caught the ball in stride for a 22-yard gain.

"Crazy heads-up play,'' Mertz said. "It was a bad ball. I threw it behind Ricky, and it could've gone in another direction. I owe a bunch of credit to [Wilson] there. That was a huge play."

Mertz's 21-yard touchdown pass to Pearsall two plays after Wilson's fortunate grab completed the comeback and ignited a celebration on a visiting sideline for the first time since a victory at Texas A&M last November.

"It felt amazing when the clock struck zero," UF linebacker Shemar James said.

Meanwhile, Mertz and Pearsall celebrated the most productive days of their college careers. The two transfers carried the offense Saturday, with Pearsall catching 10 passes for a career-high 166 yards, none bigger than when he broke from the slot and beat South Carolina cornerback Nick Emmanwori to the inside before safety Jalon Kilgore arrived to help on the game-winning score. Of course, that was possible because of Pearsall's 26-yard catch on fourth down.

"The last drive was a little wild," Mertz said. "When you're first, second, third down, don't go right, and then fourth down, I knew they were bringing some pressure. I knew I had man coverage. We rep that all the time. I gave Ricky a chance to make a play, and he does what he always does and just made a great play.

"He is the best route runner I've ever seen."

Pearsall found ways to get open against the Gamecocks, with six of his 10 receptions going for 17 or more yards. Pearsall eclipsed 2,000 career receiving yards Saturday and caught a pass for the 35th consecutive game dating to his time at Arizona State.

The banner day had Pearsall and Mertz all smiles as they spoke with the media Saturday evening. But this one did mean more than personal stats.

"It was really important for us, especially being a road game," Pearsall said. "We needed a road win. We've been emphasizing it. Starting fast, putting the pressure on them right away. I'm just proud of the guys for doing that. I just remember coming into this stadium right away and looking at everyone in their eyes. They looked ready. That was one of the first times I've really seen everyone in the locker room just locked in and ready."

Napier was able to flash his pearly whites after a victory that kept the Gators in the conversation with SEC East leader Georgia when so many were about to write them off. As the players whooped and hollered coming off the field in front of the fast-emptied South Carolina student section, Napier greeted them in the locker room with one of his "How 'Bout Them Gators."

The locker room party was just getting started. Napier even referenced former Gators and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier at his press conference.

Spurrier used to have a saying after wins like Saturday's.

"I would say God smiled on the Gators,'' Napier said.

And they smiled back for a change when away from home.