MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Mitch Leidner ran for two scores and threw a touchdown pass to Donovahn Jones, leading Minnesota to a season-opening 42-20 victory over Eastern Illinois on Thursday night.

Leidner finished 9 for 17 with 144 yards, David Cobb carried 14 times for 71 yards and the defense delivered a punishing performance to overwhelm the Panthers, a perennial FCS power facing the Gophers for the first time.

Jalen Whitlow, a transfer from Kentucky, went 14 for 23 passing for 110 yards and rushed 19 times for 77 yards. He had an interception, though, and took two sacks on a mistake-marred night for the Panthers.

Eric Murray blocked a punt near the goal line for the Gophers that Logan Hutton grabbed for a three-touchdown lead.

So who needs Johnny Football?

UNDATED (AP)— There is life after Johnny Football. Just ask South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier.

In his first career start, Kenny Hill broke Johnny Manziel's single-game passing record with 511 yards and No. 21 Texas A&M beat ninth-ranked South Carolina 52-28. That ends the Gamecocks' 18-game home win streak.

Hill's performance in his first career start proved there is plenty of life in the Aggies' offense without Manziel, the Heisman Trophy winner and first-round selection in the NFL draft. Hill finished 44 of 60 with three touchdowns.

Hill was steady and confident in the pocket, leading Texas A&M to a 31-14 halftime lead and finishing up with the most passing yards allowed in Spurrier's 10 seasons coaching the Gamecocks. South Carolina gave up seven TDs on A&Ms first 11 possessions.

In other AP Top-25 football:

__ Number-18 Ole Miss came alive in the fourth quarter, pulling away to beat Boise State 35-13 in a sloppy season opener. Shaking off three first-half interceptions, Bo Wallace threw for 387 yards and four touchdowns — three of the scores coming on consecutive throws in the fourth quarter.

— No. 19 Arizona State raced to a quick 38-0 lead and trounced Weber State 45-14. Junior running back D.J. Foster led the Sun Devils' attack with 147 yards rushing on 15 carries for three TDs.

 

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