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WATCH: South Carolina defensive back O'Donnell Fortune returns pick-six 100 yards in Gator Bowl

Wade-Peeryby: Wade Peery12/31/22
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(Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Things have officially gotten wild and crazy in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. It’s officially the highest scoring TaxSlayer Gator Bowl ever. The South Carolina Gamecocks looked down and out. Notre Dame was at the 6-yard line and looking for another score to put the game away in the fourth quarter.

But then, Fighting Irish quarterback Tyler Buchner hit South Carolina defensive back O’Donnell Fortune right in the chest in the end zone. He took it 100-yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 38 points apiece.

Check out the game-changing interception below, as Fortune picks off the pass and follows a convoy of blockers down the left sideline for the pick-six.

It was a wild and whacky game in what was one of the most entertaining matchups of the 2022-2023 college football season. Notre Dame won 45-38 in an absolute classic. Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner racked up over 300 all-purpose yards and 5 total touchdowns, earning MVP honors in the Gator Bowl.

South Carolina struggled in the second half

South Carolina was in firm control of the game in the first half and held a commanding 24-10 advantage, but they struggled to get anything going on the offensive side of the ball late in the game. Notre Dame outscored South Carolina 28-14 in the second half, including the game-winning 16-yard touchdown pass from Buchner to tight end Mitchell Evans with 1:38 remaining in the fourth quarter.

This one will sting for South Carolina for quite some time, especially since they had control of the game early. Gamecocks’ receiver Xavier Legette had one of the most spectacular catches of the game, a 42-yard touchdown strike from Spencer Rattler in the third quarter. It was one of the most impressive passes of the season from Rattler. Even though the end result of Friday night’s game will be tough to stomach for South Carolina, there were still plenty of positives to appreciate from their final three games of their 2022 campaign.