Gamecocks handle Missouri; 2-0 for first time since 2012
COLUMBIA, Mo. (WOLO) — Deebo Samuel did it again.
Samuel rushed for two touchdowns to help the Gamecocks cruise to a 31-13 victory over Missouri on Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
Missouri (1-1, 0-1) 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, 1-0) 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.
GAME CHANGER
Missouri took a 10-0 lead with 13:07 remaining in the second quarter, but Deebo Samuel quickly changed that, returning a 97-yard kickoff for a touchdown for the second straight game. It was Samuel’s Gamecock best third career kickoff return for a touchdown. Samuel then took advantage of Jamyest Williams’first career interception, scoring on a 25-yard run on the drive’s first play, giving the Gamecocks the lead for good.
KEY STAT
3 — For the second straight game, the Gamecocks won the turnover battle, turning a trio of Tiger miscues into 14 points. Jamyest Williams’ interception turned into a Deebo Samuelrushing touchdown. Then a fumble on a punt in the fourth quarter led to Hayden Hurst’s second touchdown of the contest.
The Gamecocks look forward to their 2017 home opener, which is set for next Saturday, Sept. 16, when Carolina hosts Kentucky. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. and the contest will be televised on SEC Network. The Wildcats have won three-straight in the series, but the Gamecocks still hold a 17-10-1 overall advantage, including an 8-4-1 mark at home.
