Florida Gators vs Florida State Seminoles Match Player Stats On Nov 24, 2012

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 24, 2012

No. 6 Florida 37, No. 5 Florida State 26: Mike Gillislee rushed for 140 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the visiting Gators dominated the fourth quarter in a game of wild momentum swings.

Jeff Driskel passed for 147 yards and a touchdown and the defense forced five turnovers for Florida (11-1), which snapped a two-game losing streak in the series. The Gators' chances for a spot in the BCS Championship Game, though, were dashed when Notre Dame defeated USC 22-13 later Saturday.

EJ Manuel threw for 182 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a pair of scores, but was intercepted three times and lost a crushing fumble early in the fourth quarter for the Seminoles (10-2).

Florida dominated the first half and took a 13-3 lead into the locker room. Florida State came alive after the break, scoring its first touchdown when Manuel hit tight end Nick O’Leary for a 6-yard score and getting some help from the defense when Bjoern Werner forced a fumble on the Gators’ next play.

Manuel busted through for a 1-yard touchdown run to give Florida State its first lead, 17-13, with 8:30 left in the third quarter. It would stretch to 20-13 before Florida began to get back into the game.

The Gators got on the board early in the fourth with a field goal and changed the entire complexion of the game on the ensuing drive, when Antonio Morrison sacked Manuel, forcing a fumble and knocking the senior quarterback out for a series. Gillislee broke through for a 37-yard touchdown on the play following the fumble and Florida went on to score 24 straight points in the fourth quarter.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Matt Jones added 81 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries for the Gators. … The Seminoles will play Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game next week. … Manuel was evaluated for a concussion on the sidelines while sophomore Clint Trickett took over under center. Manuel did not show any signs of injury upon his return.