Game versus Clemson a 'must-win' for USC

COLUMBIA -- Minutes after a pretty devastating loss to the No. 1 team in the country, South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia brought up Clemson.

He did it without being asked about the Tigers. They were already the talk in the locker room, he said.

"We've got to get ready for the second season, which is Clemson," Garcia said. "It's a season of its own. It's a must-win for us."

South Carolina hung with Florida for three quarters before falling 24-14, but the Gamecocks (6-5) have

dropped three consecutive games no matter how you look at it.

"Being 7-5 as opposed to 6-6 would be huge for us," Garcia said. "It should've been a little bit better record, but it didn't work out that way. This is a huge game for us. In my opinion, and I think the rest of the team, I think it's a must-win for us."

Clemson (7-3) isn't necessarily a must-win for South Carolina to go to a bowl. Unlike two years ago, when a long losing streak nixed the Gamecocks' chances of a postseason, the SEC has added another bowl tie: the Papajohns.com Bowl on Jan. 2 in Birmingham, Ala.

But the Gamecocks still want to aim a little higher than that.

If they can figure out a way to beat the Tigers, they'd probably be in line for a better game. Maybe even the Dec. 31 Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta.

The middle of the pack in the SEC is jammed up, though, and things could change significantly in the next two weeks.

Before Clemson, South Carolina finally gets to its off week.

"It's kind of a dumb time to have an open date," defensive coach Ellis Johnson said. "It's almost too late. It's too late for the wounded warriors, if you will."

You can understand his viewpoint. Week by week, his defense has been beleaguered by injuries.

A week off in October might have saved some wear and tear.

Some players have returned from fairly serious injuries, but others (middle linebacker Rodney Paulk and defensive tackle Travian Robertson) are out for the season.

Defensive end Cliff Matthews was able to play quite a bit Saturday, despite being two weeks removed from a dislocated shoulder. Another end, Devin Taylor, missed the game with a bruised chest.

Johnson said Clifton Geathers, who had 4 1/2 tackles for a loss against the Gators, has been practicing and playing hurt for weeks.

At one point in the first half against Florida, both of the team's top two strong safeties -- senior Darian Stewart (shoulder) and freshman DeVonte Holloman (hip) -- were out of the game at the same time.

Alonzo Winfield, who had played spur all season, was suddenly in at one of the defense's more difficult positions to play.

Johnson said Florida did a lot of different things with its rushing offense, and it took him perhaps a bit too long to adjust.

The Gamecocks did settle, though, getting stingy with yardage in the third quarter.

Meanwhile, the offense started to kick in, taking a 10-play drive down to Florida's 22-yard line in a three-point game.

That's when things fell apart in one snap.

To begin the fourth quarter, and on third-and-3, Garcia fired a throw to Moe Brown on a slant pattern.

Brown wasn't expecting the ball, didn't turn his head and it whizzed past him. The ball hit Florida defensive back Markihe Anderson's helmet and shot into the air.

Defensive lineman Justin Trattou, who'd been knocked to the ground, had time to spot the ball, get up and snatch it on the run. Trattou's 53-yard return helped set up Florida's coffin-nail touchdown.

"It was pretty demoralizing for us," Garcia said.

Spurrier was initially critical of Garcia's decision to go away from Jason Barnes -- the receiver designed to catch the slant pass -- and toward Brown.

In hindsight, after seeing the film, Spurrier said Garcia was actually right.

Barnes was covered, and Brown had a little seam between the defensive back and linebacker.

Had Brown made the catch, he would've been awfully close to the 19-yard line, the spot needed for the first down.

"I sort of understand what Stephen Garcia saw when he chose to throw the ball," Spurrier said. "I think the ball snuck up on Moe, somehow or another."

Even though the intent was to go to Barnes, Spurrier said Brown should've been ready.

Brown, emotional, said the same thing after the game.

"He should've known every time you go out you're a potential candidate," Spurrier said. "For some reason he just wasn't expecting it."

Down 10, South Carolina suddenly became a one-dimensional, predictable team. And the Gamecocks went backward, losing 16 yards in the fourth quarter and finishing with 41 total yards in the second half. The Gators had four of their six sacks in the fourth quarter.

Florida finished the SEC season with an 8-0 record. It'll play No. 2 Alabama in Atlanta in three weeks.

USC will take a long-awaited breather before Clemson.

"It's much-needed," Garcia said. "Eleven straight weeks of football -- and four games in a row of SEC football -- it's pretty tough."

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com and check out the South Carolina blog at www.postandcourier.com/blogs/gamecocks.