No. 2 Gators force early turnovers, pull away early on No. 7 South Carolina

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Jeff Driskel threw four touchdown passes -- three of them after turnovers -- and BCS-No. 2 Florida matched its win total from last season with a 44-11 drubbing of No. 7 South Carolina yesterday.

The Gators avenged consecutive losses to the Gamecocks.

Florida's latest whatever-it-takes win kept coach Will Muschamp's team undefeated and put it on the cusp of the Southeasten Conference's Eastern Division title. The Gators (7-0, 6-0 SEC) can clinch a spot in the SEC championship game by beating No. 13 Georgia next week in Jacksonville.

Florida managed just 29 yards and two first downs in the first half against South Carolina (6-2, 4-2). But the Gators led 21-6 thanks to three turnovers.

Loucheiz Purifoy knocked the ball out of Connor Shaw's hands on the first play. Lerentee McCray recovered, giving Florida the ball at the 2-yard line. Driskel hooked up with Jordan Reed on third down for the touchdown, giving the Gators a lead they would never relinquish.

Ace Sanders fumbled on a punt return, Florida recovered and drove 29 yards for a 14-3 lead. Driskel found Quinton Dunbar for a 13-yard score. Dunbar spun out of DeVonte Holloman's grasp before coasting across the goal line.

On the ensuing kickoff, Solomon Patton forced Damiere Byrd to fumble. Chris Johnson picked it up and nearly scored. He was stopped at the 1, setting up Driskel's second TD pass to Reed. Driskel faked a handoff and found Reed alone in the back of the end zone, which made it 21-3.

The Gators scored on all three possessions in the third quarter, getting a 6-yard TD run by Omarius Hines, a field goal and a 6-yard pass from Driskel to Frankie Hammond Jr.

-- AP