GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- When they shook hands after the game, Florida coach Jim McElwain thanked South Carolinas Will Muschamp for what he left behind in Gainesville.On defense anyway.It didnt need to be said. After all, it was evident on the field.Austin Appleby threw two touchdown passes, Jordan Scarlett ran for a career-high 134 yards and the Gators used another solid defensive effort to beat the Gamecocks 20-7 Saturday, moving closer to clinching the Southeastern Conferences Eastern Division.I just said, No. 1, that there were some great defensive players here, McElwain said. He just did an outstanding job.The banged-up Gators (7-2, 5-2; No. 22 AP) can secure a spot in the league title game by winning at 24th-ranked LSU next week. It might be a long shot given Floridas injury situation.McElwain lost nine starters the last two weeks, including four against the Gamecocks (5-5, 3-5). Safety Marcus Maye (arm) is out for the season, and its uncertain whether defensive end Bryan Cox Jr. (ankle), center Tyler Jordan (ankle) and left tackle David Sharpe (leg) will be ready to play against the Tigers.Youve got guys dropping left and right and new guys going in there, McElwain said. I think we sold some extra programs because (fans) didnt know the numbers that were in there. Our new athletic director will be excited about that. Itll help the budget.Florida did just enough to overcome the injuries.Appleby found Cyontai Lewis for a 6-yard score in the first quarter and then floated a perfect pass to Ahmad Fulwood in the corner of the end zone in the second. Eddy Pineiros two field goals in the third, including a 54-yarder, gave the Gators some breathing room.Floridas defense did the rest, allowing just 256 yards while rebounding nicely from a 31-10 loss at Arkansas last week. Most of the players shutting down South Carolina were guys Muschamp signed during his four years (2011-14) in Gainesville.Its about the people, he said. Its not about the logo. Its not about the buildings. Its relationships you build with people over a period of time. A lot of people that still work here at Florida that Im very close with and always will be. As we move forward there will be less players involved, which is probably the better part for me because thats what I really care about.Many thought Floridas former coach would pull off an upset in his return to Gainesville. Instead, the Gamecocks were shut out until scoring with 6:53 left. The loss snapped South Carolinas three-game winning streak.Freshman quarterback Jake Bentley, who played so well in those victories, struggled in his first road start. Bentley completed 18 of 33 passes for 213 yards, with an interception and a fumble.Appleby was slightly more efficient. The former Purdue starter, filling in for injured Luke Del Rio, was 17-of-21 passing for 201 yards. He threw an interception in the third quarter and fumbled a snap, committing two of the teams three turnovers.We could have had 40 points out there if we played the way we are capable of, Appleby said. We will get it fixed.THE TAKEAWAYSouth Carolina: Although the Gamecocks didnt have much offensive success, its clear Muschamp has some young players to build around. Bentley, running back Rico Dowdle and receiver Bryan Edwards -- all freshmen -- should be a solid nucleus for the next few years.Florida: The Gators have endured their share of injures the last two weeks, losing five defensive starters and four on the offensive side of the ball. Some of them wont be back for next weeks all-important game at LSU, leaving Florida to test its depth on the road.POLL IMPLICATIONSFlorida probably will move up a few spots in the next AP poll, but all that matters now is beating the Tigers and getting back to Atlanta.We know whats at stake, Appleby said. We want to go back to Atlanta, and this is the next step in order to get there. Weve got a lot of guys dinged up. With that said, the next mans up.UP NEXTSouth Carolina: After playing five consecutive games at Williams-Brice Stadium before traveling to Florida, the Gamecocks return home to face Western Carolina next Saturday. South Carolina should become bowl-eligible against the Catamounts, a team from the Football Championship Subdivision.Florida: Plays at LSU next Saturday, a game postponed because of Hurricane Matthew in and later moved from Gainesville to Baton Rouge. The Gators were initially slated to host Presbyterian that day. China NFL Jerseys . 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The club announced the surgery following a 5-3 exhibition loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- North Alabama couldnt physically prepare for the Kansas City weather conditions it faced Saturday in a 29-3 loss to Northwest Missouri in the NCAA Division II championship game. It just wasnt possible.The temperature registered at 13 degrees with a wind chill of minus-4 at kickoff. At the same time, at North Alabamas campus in Florence, just over 600 miles away, the temperature was 70 degrees.Its not like were going to have a big snow machine out on the practice football field, quarterback Jacob Tucker said. As far getting physically used to the elements, you just cant do it.Tucker said after hed get tackled, his hands would get wet, and then as he began calling the following play, his hands would start freezing.He didnt want to use the inclement weather as an excuse for his performance, but he couldnt come up with any other conclusions.It was something that I hadnt experienced before, Tucker said. It was a challenge for me and it was a challenge that I didnt step up to, because I made some bad throws because of it.Tucker completed 15 of 41 passes for 179 yards and threw one interception in the game.Several North Alabama players warmed up in sleeveless shirts. Others warmed up without leggings on. Regardless of the Lions attempted tactics to prepare for the cold, nothing seemed to work and Northwest Missouri State blew right through North Alabama.In Bobby Wallaces 28-year head coaching career, he couldnt come up with a game that had remotely similar conditions.I coached eight years at Temple and I never saw a game like this before, Wallace said. Two of the three championships in the 90s was cold. The first was cold and rainy and the other one was just cold but we werent playing in snow.Wide receiver Dre Hall, a Tennessee native, echoeed both Tucker and Wallaces sentiments.ddddddddddddHe said he had difficulty in both timing and running his routes.It messed with us a little bit, Hall said. I remember coming off the sideline and everybody was thinking, `this snow is three inches thick. How are we going to run in it?Hall said he told his teammates that they had to pick their knees up. But even then, the receiving corps had difficulties.Not only did the receivers have a hard time running in the snow, North Alabamas ground game was dismal as well, only having 22 yards rushing through the entirety of the game.Tucker took the majority of the carries, 21 of 33, and only came away with 26 yards. Beasleys efforts on the ground didnt add much either, only having four carries for 29 yards.Wallace knew coming into the game that their rushing efforts werent going to match up evenly with Northwest Missouri.We tried to put a couple of guys back there, but neither one of them would be what you could call a 1,000-yard rusher, Wallace said. Our offensive line, we have some injuries this year and it was just a mismatch. Their defensive line is great. Its the best defensive line weve seen all year long. Wed just be running into (a) wall if we tried to run straight ahead.Even though North Alabama lost, Wallace was proud of his team and the effort his team gave.To be honest with you, I know that Im as proud of our group as they are over there with what theyve achieved, Wallace said. This group of seniors has won four conference championships, and thats never been done in the history of the conference, and played in the national championship game. If you think thats easy, its not. ' ' '