South Carolina overcomes gaffes, Gators

Jake Bentley threw for 249 yards and ran for two touchdowns to lead host South Carolina to a 28-20 win over Florida on Saturday.

The Gamecocks (7-3, 5-3 SEC) had their best game of the season, gaining 469 yards, and needed that offense to overcome Bentley’s three interceptions and a fumbled punt.

But a Florida team in disarray with a fired coach and no wins since September couldn’t take advantage of the help. The Gators (3-6, 3-5) will finish with a losing SEC record for only the third time since 1992.

A.J. Turner ran 22 times for 136 yards and Mon Denson rushed for the first two touchdowns of his career as South Carolina will finish second in the SEC East. The Gamecocks have just one title and fourth second-place finishes in 25 years in the league.

And in a common theme this season, South Carolina’s defense came through. The Gators converted as many fourth downs (2 for 2) as third downs (2 for 15).

But Florida still had one last chance before defensive back Jamyest Williams’ interception on a tipped pass near midfield with just over a minute to go.

For the second game in a row, Florida started Notre Dame graduate transfer Malik Zaire at quarterback. He hurt his leg in the second quarter, left for a play, then crumpled to the ground as he tried to run. Freshman Feleipe Franks went 10 of 25 for 174 yards. LSU 33, Arkansas 10:

Derrius Guice rushed for 147 yards, scoring three times, and D.J. Chark had a pair of receiving touchdowns as the Tigers (7-3, 4-2) cruised past

the Razorbacks (4-6, 1-5). Tied 7-7 at the half, LSU took the opening possession of the second half 75 yards in eight plays, culminating with Guice’s 6-yard touchdown. The Tigers missed the extra point.

After Arkansas made it 13-10 on a 38-yard field goal by Connor Limpert on its next possession, Guice found the end zone again, this time from 33 yards out, making it 19-10 after another missed PAT.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Danny Etling connected with Chark for a 68-yard touchdown. The pair also hooked up for a 45-yard score in the first half. Chark finished the game with 130 yards on four catches.

The LSU defense was also impressive, holding Arkansas to 318 total yards of offense. The 10 points were the lowest output for the Razorbacks since a 41-9 loss to No. 2 Alabama on Oct. 14.

Kentucky 44, Vanderbilt 21: Benny Snell rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns and Sihiem King added two rushing TDs as the Wildcats (7-3, 4-3) romped past the host Commodores (4-6, 0-6).

Snell, who entered the game as the SEC’s leading rusher, became the ninth player in school history to reach 2,000 career yards. The 5-foot-11, 223-pound sophomore also became the first Kentucky player to rush for consecutive 1,000yard seasons.

Kentucky’s Austin MacGinnis kicked three field goals, and the Wildcats accumulated 428 yards in total offense.

Vanderbilt’s Kyle Shurmur threw four interceptions and one TD, and was

sacked five times.

Ole Miss 50, Louisiana 22: Jordan Ta’amu threw for three touchdowns and ran for two more as the host Rebels (5-5, 2-4) scored on their first five possessions against the Ragin’ Cajuns (4-5).

Ta’amu, in his third career start after replacing an injured Shea Patterson, finished 28 of 36 for 418 yards, opening with nine consecutive completions. Ta’amu added scoring runs of 1 and 8 yards as the Rebels raced to a 35-7 lead early in the second quarter.