COLUMBIA --- South Carolina took the field Saturday against No. 1 Florida with the words "courage," "honor" and "integrity" stitched onto their special jerseys.
The Gamecocks displayed all of those traits in keeping the game close for three quarters, but the Gators forced a crucial interception and clamped down in the fourth quarter to preserve a 24-14 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium.
After all, Florida had one player with the word "Tebow" on his jersey. The Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback didn't have his best game, but he threw one touchdown pass and rushed for another to keep Florida's undefeated season and national championship hopes intact.
The Gators' defense rose to the occasion early in the fourth quarter. With South Carolina down 17-14 and driving toward the end zone, Stephen Garcia's pass for Moe Brown bounced into the air and was intercepted. Justin Trattou returned it 53 yards to the South Carolina 26, and four plays later Tebow barreled into the end zone to put Florida ahead by 10.
"A lot of guys played their hearts out tonight," said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, who fell to 1-4 in games against his alma mater. "We were in position to maybe tie it up. One play seemed to doom us."
The Gamecocks' offense wilted in the fourth quarter. Its three drives in the final 15 minutes went like this: three plays for -13 yards, three plays for -8 yards and five plays for 1 yard.
"We were down 10 and kept trying to throw," Spurrier said. "We're not good enough to pass block those guys."
The Gamecocks (6-5, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) wore camouflage jerseys to honor the Wounded Warriors Project. Through three quarters, South Carolina had a chance to do something it had never done before: beat a No. 1 team. Instead, it dropped to 0-4 all-time against top-ranked teams, with two losses coming against Florida.
"It was huge," Florida coach Urban Meyer said of Trattou's interception. "The whole field was tilting (in South Carolina's favor). Then the field shifted back and momentum completely swung. You felt it in the stadium."
Florida (10-0, 8-0) snapped South Carolina's seven-game home winning streak and became the first SEC team to go undefeated in league play since Tennessee in 1998. The Gators also extended their winning streak to 20.
"Going through the SEC undefeated really means a lot," Tebow said.
Spurrier defeated Florida in 2005 in his first game against his former team, and a year later the Gators nipped the Gamecocks 17-16 in Gainesville. The last two years, however, were blowout wins by Florida.
When South Carolina had a fake punt called back for an illegal shift, and Tebow hit Riley Cooper on a 68-yard touchdown pass, it looked like it might be a long day for the Gamecocks.
Instead, Garcia led South Carolina on an 84-yard drive that was capped by Brian Maddox's 1-yard run for a touchdown.
After a Caleb Sturgis field goal and a 17-yard TD run by Emmanuel Moody put the Gators ahead by 10, South Carolina refused to fold. Garcia drove his team 65 yards for a TD, a 9-yard reception by Weslye Saunders in the corner of the end zone.
"We definitely thought we could pull it off," Saunders said of the team's mood heading into the final quarter. "We had the momentum and there was no doubt in our minds that we were going to go out and score. For that to happen, it was a big disappointment."
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Back 
''That turnover took a lot of steam'' out of the Gamecocks, Spurrier said. ''Give Florida credit. They played pretty well. I don't know if by their standards they thought they played super.''
Meyer was simply happy to leave with a victory.
''We did not play perfect. I'm not sure we've played perfect in a while,'' he said. ''But that's 20 in a row and I'm awful proud of the guys in there.''
The Gamecocks had lost four of their past five after starting the year 5-1. It's the third time in Spurrier's five seasons he's finished with a sub-.500 SEC mark - something that never happened during his stellar run at Florida from 1990-2001.
Congratulations to the GATORS. No matter what it looked like, they won. For the 20th time in a row. And they have an opportunity to three peat as National Champions. The GameCocks played a great game. I really thought they were gonna win this one. I don't know if everyone is getting better or if Florida is not quite as good as last year. If they get past BAMA I sure hope they look better against their non conference opponent. I ain't bashing the Gators. Lord knows they thrashed my DAWGS. But they sure have been in some close ones this year. Even if they win out, I'm not sure coming back was the best decision for Tebow. Last year he truly looked like Superman. This year he has seemed much more human. Still, if they get by BAMA, I will be pulling for them in the NC game.
The Gamecock defense looked good against a superior team, but the inexperienced quarterback never allowed the offense to get comfortable. Garcia should have plenty of knowledge of what not to do after this season. I still have faith in The Coach. He'll turn this team around.
cool uni's cocks! this dawg was sure pulling for 'em. they should be proud, even with the outcome.