Final from Charlotte: South Carolina 35, North Carolina State 28

[jbcarol]

GoGamecocks‏ @gogamecocks

South Carolina's season opener is big for this reason

South Carolina plays N.C. State on Saturday to kick off the 2017 football season, head coach Will Muschamp's second in charge of the program. The Gamecocks were 6-7 in Muschamp's first season at the helm.

The specifics of the game

▪  How good can Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley be?

▪  Can South Carolina's re-tooled offensive line keep Wolfpack defensive ends Bradley Chubb and Kentavius Street away from Bentley?

▪  Will USC's thin defense be good or at least good enough?

Those are the questions that will determine how Saturday goes, but the season-opening game is big for this reason: The Gamecocks need confidence. This is still a team rising out of the 3-9 disaster of the 2015 season

N.C. State is not the typical opening opponent. Wolfpack are not only a Power 5 team; they are a Power 5 team that is expected to be as good as it has been

[jbcarol]

Josh Kendall‏ @JoshatTheState

Gamecocks won the toss and will receive to start the season.

[jbcarol]

 Josh Kendall‏ @JoshatTheState 2m2 minutes ago

Nice start to the season. Deebo Samuel goes 97 yards for a touchdown on opening kickoff. USC 7-0 with 14:47 left in first quarter

[jbcarol]

 Josh Kendall‏ @JoshatTheState 3m3 minutes ago

Gamecocks had Skai Moore in man coverage with a Wolfpack WR on that last play. He did a nice job.

[jbcarol]

 GoGamecocks‏ @gogamecocks 3m3 minutes ago

0:09 Q2: NC State scores on a short rub route and USC should head into halftime tied 21-21.

[jbcarol]

 Josh Kendall‏ @JoshatTheState 6m6 minutes ago

It's 21-21 at halftime. Watching Will Muschamp's halftime radio interview as I type. Head hasn't exploded... yet.

[jbcarol]

 GoGamecocks‏ @gogamecocks 8m8 minutes ago

Will Muschamp on headsets not working in first half: 'It's absolutely ridiculous. CoachComm is fired.'

[jbcarol]

CoachComm‏ @CoachComm

CoachComm Retweeted TCU Equipment

The #TCU press box is ready for game day! #SmartBoom

[jbcarol]

 Ben Breiner‏ @BreinerTheState 8m8 minutes ago

USC has two TDs on four drives.

USC gave up three on five drives, with a fumble forced and a missed NC State FG

[jbcarol]

Bentley to Samuel 39 TD pass.

[jbcarol]

NCSt 21  SC 28  11:54 3rd

[jbcarol]

SC forces a fumble on a sack and will be in business depending on the review.

[jbcarol]

NCSt 21  SC 35  8:00 3rd

[jbcarol]

 GoGamecocks‏ @gogamecocks 48m48 minutes ago

How the points were scored in South Carolina's 35-28 win over NC State http://scne.ws/PkPmBL

South Carolina 7, NC State 0

Scoring play: Deebo Samuel returned the opening kickoff for 97 yards.

Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00

Key play: Samuel tied the USC record for kickoff return touchdowns with two. He had one last season.


South Carolina 21, NC State 14

Scoring play: Bentley's six-yard pass to Samuel

Drive: 8 plays, 40 yards, 3:18

Key play: Bentley escaped a sack and rushed 13 yards for a first down on third and 12.

South Carolina 28, NC State 21

Scoring play: Samuel's one-handed, 39-yard catch

Drive: 3 plays, 51 yards, 1:25

Key play: Chris Lammons started the drive with a 26-yard punt return to put USC at its 49-yard line.

South Carolina 35, N.C. State 28

Scoring play: Finley's 1-yard pass to Jalen Samuels on fourth-and-goal

Drive: 9 plays, 46 yards, 3:33

Key play: Hines' 19-yard rush to USC's 21-yard line for a first down.

[jbcarol]

 SportsTalk‏ @sportstalksc 19h19 hours ago

USC 35-NC State 28 final stats...