The Chick-fil-A Bowl starts out about as well as it could for South Carolina. The Gamecocks drive into the Florida State red zone on the fourth play of the game, getting most of the yardage on a 53-yard rush by star running back Marcus Lattimore.
Chick-Fil-A Bowl, South Carolina Vs. Florida State: Greg Reid Forces Fumble, Marcus Lattimore Injured, Seminoles Lead
Then, on 3rd-and-4 from the Seminoles’ 20-yard line, Marcus Lattimore takes the ball and runs for what appears to be a first down — before Greg Reid levels him and knocks the ball loose. Kendall Smith picks the ball up and runs down to the South Carolina 29, as Lattimore lies on the ground with what we are later told is a mouth injury making him questionable for the rest of the game.
Florida State, apparently being unaware that the South Carolina secondary does about as good a job of defense as the Maginot Line, calls seven straight runs, including an option on 2nd-and-goal that nearly ends in disaster when Christian Ponder misses the running back. Florida State recovers the ball but loses seven yards.
Ponder’s pass falls incomplete, forcing the Seminoles to settle for a field goal. Dustin Hopkins is good from 29 yards, giving Florida State an early three-point lead.
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