COL FB: Florida St. 26, South Carolina 17

ATLANTA, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Taiwan Easterling caught a 7-yard pass TD to end a key fourth-quarter drive Friday, lifting Florida State to a 26-17, Chick-fil-A Bowl win over South Carolina.

The Seminoles had scored only one touchdown heading into the final period but Dustin Hopkins kicked four field goals to give Florida State a 19-10 lead.

South Carolina's Brian Maddox then scored on a 7-yard run to bring the Gamecocks within 19-17 with 11:56 to play.

Florida State took over at its own 37-yard line after the kickoff and E.J. Manuel drove the Seminoles to the game-clinching score in 10 plays. The only other Florida State touchdown came on a 27-yard run by Chris Thompson in the second period.

The field goals by Hopkins were from 29, 48, 35 and 45 yards.

Florida State appeared in a bowl game for the 29th consecutive season and finished its campaign at 10-4.

South Carolina wound up at 9-5. Coach Steve Spurrier has a 1-4 bowl record since taking over the Gamecocks.

The Southeastern Conference put more teams in bowl games this year (10) than any other league. Three of those games have been played thus far and the SEC has lost all three. Florida, Alabama and Mississippi State will all be in action from the SEC on New Year's Day.

Florida State's win gave the Atlantic Coast Conference a 4-3 bowl record with two games remaining.