SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 17, 2012
No. 7 Florida 23, Jacksonville State 0: Mike Gillislee ran for 122 yards and a touchdown and linebacker Jon Bostic returned an interception seven yards for a score to lead the Gators over the visiting Gamecocks in Gainesville.
Florida outgained Jacksonville State 202-48 on the ground, with freshman Matt Jones pitching in 65 yards behind Gillislee. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett, starting in place of an injured Jeff Driskel, went 14-of-22 for 154 yards for the Gators (10-1), who didn't need much offensively with the defense pitching its second shutout of the season.
The Gamecocks (6-5) got off to a promising start, with Kevyn Cooper taking a pass from Marques Ivory 76 yards to the Florida 7 on the game's first play from scrimmage. The Gator defense held, and Jacksonville State's attempt to gain the early lead failed when Griffin Thomas missed a 25-yard field goal try.
Gillislee answered by capping a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a 7-yard scamper for the game's first touchdown and the Gators didn't look back.
Bostic's pick, which came with the Gamecocks pinned back at their own 2 early in the third quarter, was the fourth of his career and his first career touchdown. The senior recovered his first career fumble last week against Louisiana-Lafayette.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The win makes this Gators team just the third in school history to go 7-0 at home in a season. ... Jacksonville State falls to 1-5 all-time against SEC opponents. Its lone win was a double-overtime thriller over Ole Miss in 2010. ... The Gators' previous shutout came against Kentucky, 38-0, on September 22.