Samuel sparks South Carolina

Receiver returns kickoff for TD, adds two TD receptions.

Wide receiver Deebo Samuel returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a score and caught two touchdown passes from Jake Bentley as South Carolina defeated North Carolina State 35-28 on Saturday in Charlotte, N.C., in the season opener for both teams.

Bentley threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns, including passes of 39 and 6 yards to Samuel as the Gamecocks won their 17th season opener in the past 18 years.

Gamecocks safety D.J. Smith broke up a pass from Ryan Finley in the end zone on fourth-and-goal with six seconds left to preserve the win.

Finley threw for 415 yards and two touchdowns on 45-of-64 passing for North Carolina State. Jaylen Samuels had 15 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown, and Kelvin Harmon had 10 for 114 yards for the Wolfpack.

The game turned in the third quarter.

With the score tied at 21, Bentley rolled out to the right, avoided a pass rusher and heaved a perfectly thrown pass to Samuel, who made a one-handed grab in the corner of the end zone.

On North Carolina State’s next possession, defensive end Dante Sawyer came crashing through the line and sacked Ryan Finley, stripping him of the ball. Bryson Allen-Williams hopped on the loose ball at the Wolfpack 13. Two plays later Rico Dowdle scored on a 7-yard run for a 14-point lead.

Samuel got the season started in style for South Carolina, taking the opening kickoff and bouncing to the outside and racing up the field. Only one player touched him as he turned on the afterburners and outran the field.

South Carolina won despite being limited to 31 yards rushing on 21 carries and being outgained 504-246.

Kentucky 24, Southern Mississippi 17: Stephen Johnson threw for 176 yards and a touchdown, and the defense recovered two crucial fumbles in the second half as the visiting Wildcats (1-0) held off the Golden Eagles (0-1). Kentucky was clinging to a 17-10 lead in the third quarter when Darius West slammed his helmet into Southern Miss quarterback Kwadra Griggs’ arm, forcing a fumble Denzil Ware scooped up and ran 20 yards for the touchdown.

Then with the Wildcats leading 24-17 in the fourth quarter, the Kentucky defense ended another drive when Chris Westry forced a fumble that was recovered by Courtney Love at midfield.

Missouri 72, Missouri State 43: Drew Lock had a record-setting day for the host Tigers (1-0), throwing for 521 yards and seven TDs against the FCS Bears (0-1).

The previous passing touchdown record was five, shared by Chase Daniel, Maty Mauk and Lock. The previous yardage record was 480, set by Jeff Handy against Oklahoma State in 1992.

Missouri’s Damarea Crockett carried 18 times for 202 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers led 48-35 at halftime.

Missouri finished with a school-record 815 yards.

Mississippi State 49, Charleston Southern 0: Nick Fitzgerald threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the host Bulldogs (1-0) routed the Buccaneers (0-1).

Mississippi State had 555 yards of offense with 29 first downs.

Charleston Southern totaled only 33 yards and two first downs against a defense that allowed 459 yards per game last season.