Florida tops South Carolina 20-7 in Muschamp's return

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- When they shook hands after the game, Florida coach Jim McElwain thanked South Carolina's Will Muschamp for what he left behind in Gainesville. On defense anyway. It didn't 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 Conference's 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 Florida's injury situation.