COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – South Carolina’s offense finally opened things up this season. Freshman quarterback Jake Bentley was a big reason why.
Bentley threw for two touchdowns and 201 yards Saturday in his first college game to lead the Gamecocks to a 34-28 victory over Massachusetts. The victory matched the Gamecocks total from their dysfunctional 2015 season and was the most points they had scored this fall.
“We just really opened up the playbook when Jake was back there, because we know he can throw it very well,” said receiver Deebo Samuel, who had eight catches for 106 yards.
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp was expecting to redshirt Bentley this season before the team’s mounting offensive problems – they entered dead last in points per game in the Football Bowl Subdivision – left the first-year coach open to any solution.
Bentley proved the right answer against the Minutemen (1-7). He led the Gamecocks (3-4) to touchdowns on their first two series, and then threw a pair of pretty fade passes for TD, the first from 16 yards out to K.C. Crosby and later a 24-yarder to Bryan Edwards to lead 27-7.