TCU shuts down Arkansas, 28-7
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Darius Anderson ran for a careerhigh 106 yards and a touchdown and No. 23 TCU’s defense dominated once again in a 28-7 victory over Arkansas on Saturday.
Anderson had 15 carries to help the Horned Frogs (2-0) win in Fayetteville for the first time since 1984 when both schools were in the Southwest Conference. The sophomore’s previous rushing best was 103 yards in a victory over Texas last season.
Kenny Hill was 21-of-31 passing for 166 yards for TCU, and the Horned Frogs held the Razorbacks (1-1) to 267 yards of total offense — a week after allowing only 65 yards in a 63-0 victory over Jackson State.
Arkansas’ Austin Allen was 9 of 23 for 138 yards, a year after accounting for four touchdowns in the Razorbacks’ double-overtime win at TCU.
Arkansas has lost three of its last four games to fall to 26-27 under fifth-season year coach Bret Bielema.
› Mississippi 45, UT Martin 23
OXFORD, Miss. — Mississippi quarterback Shea Patterson threw for a single-game school record 489 yards and five touchdowns as the Rebels rallied from a second-quarter deficit to defeat UT Martin.
Patterson finished 32 of 43 passing and led five consecutive scoring drives, accounting for 31 unanswered points that spanned the second and third quarters. In two games, Patterson has thrown for 918 yards and nine touchdowns, connecting with 10 different receivers.
A.J. Brown had touchdown catches of 58 and 2 yards, finishing with 156 yards on eight receptions. DeMarkus Lodge, Jordan Wilkins and D.K. Metcalf added scoring receptions of 28, 16 and 2 yards, respectively. The Rebels (2-0) finished with 543 total yards.
UT Martin (1-1) led 16-7 in the second quarter before the decisive five-series scoring outburst.
Kentucky 27, Eastern Kentucky 16
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Stephen Johnson accounted for two touchdowns and Benny Snell rushed for the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter to rally Kentucky past Eastern Kentucky.
Nearly two years after rallying late to eventually beat the FCS Colonels 34-27 in overtime, the Wildcats (2-0) overcame ineffective play on both sides of the ball that created a 13-3 second-quarter deficit. Johnson rebounded from a shaky start to hit tight end C.J. Conrad for a 23-yard TD just before halftime and then Blake Bone for 43 yards in the third. Snell’s 25-yard TD run on the next play provided a 17-16 lead.
On the next possession Johnson spun past several defenders down the right sideline for a 21-yard TD run with 10:09 remaining. He finished 15 of 22 passing for 224 yards and rushed for 48 yards. Kentucky outgained EKU 436-318 in its home opener and improved to 5-0 against the Colonels (0-2).
Vanderbilt 42, Alabama A&M 0
NASHVILLE — Vanderbilt quarterback Kyle Shurmur threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as the Commodores smashed Alabama A&M, improving to 2-0 for the first time under fourth-year coach Derek Mason.
The Commodores dominated all facets of the game as they readied for next week’s home challenge against 19th-ranked Kansas State. Shurmur completed 12-of-12 passes for 175 yards and three scores in the first half alone, finishing 15-for-18 for 202 yards. Vanderbilt outgained the Bulldogs 291-38 in the opening two quarters, holding Alabama A&M (0-2) to three first downs. The Commodores blocked one Bulldogs punt — converting it into a touchdown — and deflected another. Vanderbilt scored touchdowns on five-of-six possessions in the opening half.
South Carolina 31 Missouri 13
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Deebo Samuel ran for two touchdowns to help South Carolina cruise in the SEC opener for both teams.
Missouri (1-1) led 10-0 early in the second quarter when tight end Jason Reese slipped past linebacker T.J. Brunson, hauled in a Drew Lock pass and outran his pursuers. South Carolina (2-0) trailed for only 30 seconds. Samuel returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown — his second TD return in two weeks.
After the Gamecocks’ Jamyest Williams intercepted Lock, Samuel struck again, scoring on a 25-yard jet sweep. Samuel finished with five catches for 45 yards.
Jake Bentley was 18-of-28 for 187 yards passing and threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Hayden Hurst to stretch South Carolina’s lead to 21-10 midway through the third quarter. Hurst added a 2-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.
Lock had 245 yards passing and a touchdown but was intercepted twice.