S. Carolina and Indiana win in season openers

ASSOCIATED PRESS

RALEIGH, N.C. — Brian Maddox had a short touchdown run while Stephen Garcia completed a key third-down pass in the final minutes to help South Carolina beat North Carolina State 7-3 on Thursday night.

Garcia threw for just 148 yards on a frustrating night for both offenses, but the sophomore came through with a 33-yard completion to Moe Brown that allowed the Gamecocks to run out the final 2 1/2 minutes. It gave South Carolina a second straight season-opening victory against the Wolfpack, who was shut out 34-0 in last year’s meeting and failed to reach the end zone in the rematch.

Maddox scored from 1 yard out in the first quarter and finished with 66 yards rushing.

The Wolfpack managed just 133 yards, with all-Atlantic Coast Conference quarterback Russell Wilson throwing for just 74 yards while under steady pressure from the speedy South Carolina defenders.

Indiana 19, E. Kentucky 13

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Trea Burgess ran for one touchdown and Ben Chappell threw for another as Indiana held off Eastern Kentucky.

Chappell, Indiana’s new starting quarterback, threw for a career-high 326 yards and finished 27 of 36 with two interceptions and one TD. Receiver Tandon Doss caught eight passes for a career-high 125 yards.

The Colonels (0-1) were led by Cody Watts, who was 12 of 16 for 171 yards.

It was the sixth straight season-opening victory for Indiana (1-0).